Osoyoos Indian Band
Always moving forward What can we say that hasn’t already been said about Chief Clarence Louie and the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB)? The story just keeps growing so we thought we’d do our own update on what’s going on down south in Okanagan Territory! We attended a recent media event that Chief Louie hosted alongside BC Premier Christy Clark, where the Band was announced as the successful site location for a $200 million correctional centre to be built on the Band’s Senulkemen Enterprise Park in the next two years. As well as creating about 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, the new facility is seen as a huge long-term economic driver for the south Okanagan region. Some people criticized the Band for
8 Aboriginal Marketplace / March 2012
This gives us access to a greater source of capital at far better rates to build new infrastructure . . . accepting a prison onto their lands given the high percentage of Aboriginal inmates in Canadian prisons. However, in typical pragmatic style, Chief Louie told us, “listen this
thing is going to be built in our region anyway so why not get the benefit for the Band and our members, we’re also planning to implement unique and progressive programming once the jail is open to assist Aboriginal offenders, that wouldn’t happen if this thing wasn’t getting built on our Rez”. The Chief is as innovative as ever! The Band now owns and operates nine companies providing over 650 jobs in a region where work is traditionally hard to find. “We are the largest private sector employer in the south Okanagan, that’s something we’re very proud of,” added the Chief. Another recent feather in the headdress for the Band is that alongside the Songhees Band in Victoria and the Tzeachten Band in Chilliwack, the Osoyoos Band have distinguished