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The much discussed rail trail has sparked some controversy between commissioners and local Okanagan Indian Band. On Tuesday, Chief and Council of the Okanagan Indian Band voiced their opposition regarding the sale of the former Kelowna Pacific Rail Corridor between Kelowna and Vernon.
Photo credit: Okanagan Indian Band website.
Okanagan Indian Band is opposed to the rail line sale on the grounds that segments of the trail have not been reallocated to the Band's ownership.
“A significant portion of the line lies within the OKIB’s Commonage Reserve [Indian Reserve number nine],” said Chief Byron Louis of the Okanagan Indian Band. “The Commonage Reserve was allotted by the Joint Reserve Commission in 1877 and without consultation, the land was taken away. The OKIB has never lawfully surrendered our title to the land.”
The Okangan Indian Band advanced a specific claim for the Commonage Reserve back in 2002, while Canada originally accepted the claim for negotiations, they later withdrew.
“In our eyes, the resolution of the OKIB's entitlement to the Commonage Reserve remains outstanding business,” said Chief Louis. “We had hoped that the wave of reconciliation from coastal cities like Vancouver would have washer over the Okanagan.”
In 2012, the province of B.C., Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver, and land developers publicly supported the Musqueam Indian Band during a land dispute, according to the OKIB.
Following this land dispute, a 'Year of Reconciliation' was declared in 2013-2014 by the City of Vancouver. A Unanimous vote by the Mayor and council of Vancouver recognized that the city was founded on First Nations territory.
The Okanagan Indian Band have submitted their oppositional statement to legal counsel for further review and action.
For more information regarding the history of the Commonage Reserve, visit the Okanagan Indian Band's website.
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