Aboriginal People

Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) is an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada program that maximizes Aboriginal people’s participation in the economy through business development.
ABC works with a network of 54 Aboriginal Financial Institutions, including Aboriginal Capital Corporations, Aboriginal Community Futures Development Corporations and other Aboriginally-owned or controlled lending institutions.
These organizations act as developmental lenders (providing loans to enterprises that are not yet ready to secure business loans successfully from banks) and offer business advisory services.
Some of these organizations have diversified their operations and act as third-party delivery agents for the Aboriginal Business Canada program, primarily in rural and remote communities.

Aboriginal Tourism BC offers many ways to discover Aboriginal culture throughout British Columbia. See Canadian aboriginal artists carving a totem pole, explore our traditional lands and waters with an Aboriginal guide, or enjoy and experience Aboriginal dance and music performances.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. The AFN represents all citizens regardless of age, gender or place of residence.

B.C. Elders Communication Center Society strives to be a positive way for the Aboriginal Elders of British Columbia to gain strength from the greater community; their family and friends who live throughout all of the traditional territories that make up British Columbia. "All my relations" is a phrase Elders use to refer to all of their peers.

The Treaty Commission is the independent and neutral body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations among the governments of Canada, BC and First Nations in BC.

First Nations have continuing rights stretching back to time out of mind. Treaties will bring certainty to land ownership and jurisdiction for all British Columbians.

Until the mid-1800’s, our forefathers, the ancestors of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, were nomadic: following the seasons and sources of food and moving from place to place to occupy fishing sites and to harvest berries and native plants. In their travels, our ancestors met other indigenous native people of different speech and cultural practices.

The En'owkin Centre is an Indigenous cultural, educational and creative arts institution located in Penticton, BC, which offers university/college transfer diplomas and certificate programs. Our Centre is comprised of highly qualified educators who are also professional artists and writers, facilitators and Indigenous advocates. The En'owkin Centre provides a culturally sensitive learning environment in a nurturing and challenging atmosphere.

Developed in a spirit of friendship, the goal of this directory is to promote understanding between First Nations and non-First Nations peoples. It is hoped too that First Nations will find it useful for intercommunication. Initially, this directory took a full six months to put together and is now a continuing project... If I had to describe First Nations Seeker in one word, it'd be "complicated".

In October, 1990, leaders of First Nations met with the Prime Minister of Canada and then with the Premier and Cabinet of British Columbia urging the appointment of a tripartite task force to develop a process for modern treaty negotiations in BC. The federal and provincial governments agreed and on December 3rd, 1990, the BC Claims Task Force was established by agreement of the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and representative leadership of the First Nations.

First Nations University of Canada was established in 1976 as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) through a federated partnership with the University of Regina. The University is independently administered offering post-secondary education in a culturally supportive First Nations’ environment.

Our organization provides the membership to our aboriginal families.

The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society is a non-profit organization working with/for First Nations people, but our doors and our programs are open to everyone. The society was created to meet the needs of the First Nations people in Kelowna and surrounding area. We meet these needs by providing social, educational, healing and celebratory programs that help people to enhance their lifestyle and we encourage all First Nations people to retain their heritage. Newspaper clippings and information available on housing and employment opportunities are posted daily for your information. We have on file a list of social services agencies and non-profit organizations in the community.

OKANAGAN ABORIGINAL AIDS SOCIETY - Meeting the needs of the Okanagan Aboriginal Communities; Providing Education, Advocacy & Support concerning HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
The Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS Society (OAAS) has been providing services to and for people in the Okanagan Valley with Aboriginal ancestry since 1999. We have a volunteer of board of directors where all but one are of Aboriginal descent and an Acting Executive Director who volunteers hundreds of hours every year to keep the Society running.

The Okanagan Indian Band is part of the Okanagan Nation, which is comprised of 7 Indian Bands, including; Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Penticton Indian Band, Westbank First Nation, Upper Nicola Indian Band and the Okanagan Indian Band.
The Okanagan Indian Band is located at the head of Okanagan Lake in Vernon, BC, and totals 11,282 hectares. There are currently about 1688 Okanagan Indian Band members. Approximately half of our members reside on reserve while the other half resides off reserve. The Okanagan Indian Band offers a variety of services and facilities including health care, social services, and early childhood education to name a few.

Since time immemorial, the history of the Okanagan began, long before the arrival of the Europeans.
Traditionally, Okanagans (syilx) occupied an area which extended over approximately 69 000 square kilometers. The northern area of this territory was close to the area of Mica Creek, just north of modern day Revelstoke, BC, and the eastern boundary was Kootenay Lake. The southern boundary extended to the vicinity of Wilbur, Washington and the western border extended into the Nicola Valley.

The Osoyoos Indian Band has a strong vision for its future and for the region. OIB's land base consists of over 32,000 acres of British Columbia's most beautiful land with stunning vistas, rich agricultural lands, and some of the last large tracts of desert lands left in Canada. As part of the Okanagan Nation, these are a strong, independent and proud people with a rich heritage. The Osoyoos Indian Band has always been progressive; from the early years of ranching, trading and small farms the people have continued to change with the times. Now, huge vineyards sprawl across these lands, businesses are being invited to call this home and the people have become business oriented. The Band manages businesses with annual budgets in excess of $l7 million dollars and administers its own health, social, educational and municipal services.
The Osoyoos Indian Band Membership is approximately 450, with the majority of the Band Members living on the Osoyoos Indian Reservation. Improvements and modernization are everywhere. During recent years new home construction on the reserve has been swift with growth matching the rest of the South Okanagan each year.

The Osoyoos Indian Band has a strong vision for its future and for the region. OIB's land base consists of over 32,000 acres of British Columbia's most beautiful land with stunning vistas, rich agricultural lands, and some of the last large tracts of desert lands left in Canada. As part of the Okanagan Nation, these are a strong, independent and proud people with a rich heritage. The Osoyoos Indian Band has always been progressive; from the early years of ranching, trading and small farms the people have continued to change with the times. Now, huge vineyards sprawl across these lands, businesses are being invited to call this home and the people have become business oriented. The Band manages businesses with annual budgets in excess of $l7 million dollars and administers its own health, social, educational and municipal services. The Osoyoos Indian Band Membership is approximately 450, with the majority of the Band Members living on the Osoyoos Indian Reservation. Improvements and modernization are everywhere. During recent years new home construction on the reserve has been swift with growth matching the rest of the South Okanagan each year.

the political and socio-economic concerns of Non-status aboriginals in British Columbia.
BCANSI formally changed its name to the United Native Nations Society (UNNS) in 1977 as a more accurate depiction of its membership (Status, Non-status and Metis). However the mandate of the Society continues to work toward the betterment of all Aboriginals living off reserve in BC.

The People of Upper Nicola Band, with unity and respect of our traditional values are creating the environment that promotes a higher quality of life for all: through responsibility, accountability, social health, education, and economic development.
Upper Nicola Band is a member tribe of the Okanagan Nation and our membership along with the elected leadership of our tribe are committed to working within the historical framework and relationships that have existed between our tribes and those of the other member bands of the Okanagan Nation.

Located in south central British Columbia, Canada, the Okanagan Valley is home to Westbank First Nation, one of seven native communities that belong to the Okanagan Nation. The Okanagan (syilx) traditional territories extend from the south central interior of B.C. to north central Washington State. The syilx are a division of the Interior Salish and speak the nsyilxcən language. They have inhabited the valley for thousands of years.
Westbank First Nation is comprised of five reserves totalling 5,306 acres. Tsinstikeptum Reserves 9 and 10 borders Okanagan Lake and are in close proximity to the City of Kelowna, one of the fastest growing cities in British Columbia. Recently awarded as the “#1 Place to do Business” in the Pacific Region of North America by a KPMG study, Kelowna ranked first among 121 comparable size cities from 11 countries.