Reconciliation Agreement with Osoyoos Indian Band

Home Engagement Opportunities Reconciliation Agreement with Osoyoos Indian Band

Overview

Dates: Ongoing

Who: Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

What: Crown land negotiations with the Osoyoos Indian Band

Where: South Okanagan region

Why: To advance reconciliation between the Province and the Osoyoos Indian Band

How: Online and in person

Category: Land and Water, Reconciliation Initiatives

Engagement summary

The Province of British Columbia and the Osoyoos Indian Band are starting negotiations and beginning public engagement on a reconciliation agreement in the South Okanagan.

The agreement is intended to balance shared values in the region, including:

Supporting economic development that benefits communities
Protecting important cultural and ecological sites, as well as wildlife
Supporting recreational opportunities and enjoyment of nature
Improving highway access in the South Okanagan
Working together in partnership as neighbours

The agreement is also an opportunity to address the Osoyoos Indian Band’s priorities for the return of some Crown lands, including lands within its historic reserve and lands that contain important cultural and spiritual sites.

No decisions have been made about specific lands at this stage. Any proposed land parcels will be selected from Crown lands.

Private property rights are protected throughout this process, as is standard with all reconciliation agreements that the Province negotiates. No private land would be available unless the owner chooses to sell and there is a willing buyer.

Existing land uses such as recreation, ranching, tenures and access routes will be carefully reviewed and considered before any decisions are made.

Osoyoos Indian Band

The Osoyoos Indian Band’s ancestors have lived on and cared for the lands and waters in their territory since before European contact. Today, many of the Osoyoos Indian Band’s members live and work on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve No. 1, which stretches from Oliver to Osoyoos.

The Osoyoos Indian Band is an economic leader and one of the region’s major employers with successful operations in agriculture, forestry, tourism, and recreation. They have a strong relationship with the Province and have a proven track record of land stewardship, including management of two provincial parks: sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ Park in Okanagan Falls and sẁiẁs Park in Osoyoos.

First Nations’ ability to benefit from their lands supports healthy communities, preserves cultural traditions and helps build strong, sustainable economies. When First Nations thrive economically, the benefits extend beyond their communities and contribute to the broader local and regional economy in the South Okanagan.

Reconciliation agreements

Negotiated agreements help clarify land use, jurisdiction, and decision-making responsibilities. This helps create more predictable conditions for land use and investment in the region.

Land is foundational to First Nation identity, governance and well-being. For many First Nations, transferring Crown land is an important step toward addressing the enduring impacts of dispossession and creating the conditions for First Nations to exercise jurisdiction, strengthen their communities, and build sustainable futures.

Negotiation process

The Province uses a six-step process for land transfers (we are currently in step 2):

The First Nation identifies areas of land for discussion and the Province gets approval to negotiate a reconciliation agreement
The Province conducts research and reviews of these areas and begins consultation and engagement with First Nations, tenure holders, and other interested parties
Land options are refined and areas are identified for agreement. The Province then makes a formal land offer
Land surveys are conducted to confirm parcel boundaries or create new parcels, where required
Existing land uses and interests are reviewed and addressed
Land transfers occur once decisions and approvals are finalized, based on the information gathered through the previous steps

Land transfers are considered in the later stages of this process after public engagement, technical review, and the decision-making and approval processes of both the Province and the Osoyoos Indian Band.

Understanding access to and use of lands and waterways by the public and tenure holders is an important part of the engagement process. This includes activities such as hiking, camping, fishing and access for nearby residents and tenure holders.

Public engagement

We know that people want to be brought along earlier and throughout negotiations on proposed agreements with First Nations. That is why the Province and the Osoyoos Indian Band are sharing information and beginning engagement at this early stage of negotiations.

Consultation and engagement will take place throughout the negotiation process. The Province will engage directly with local governments, interest groups, tenure and licence holders, provincial agencies and the public.

Feedback will be sought through an open house and an online survey later this year. It will then be summarized in a report and considered as the reconciliation agreement negotiations continue.

How your feedback makes a difference

Engagement with local governments, interest holders, and the public is essential to better understand:

Current land uses
The importance these lands hold for local communities
Any opportunities and concerns about the lands that should be considered in negotiations

Information gathered through engagement will help inform negotiations and future decisions. No decisions will be made before engagement is completed and feedback has been considered.

Your feedback is important to us. Subscribe for updates on negotiations and the upcoming survey and open house later this summer.