Senklip - December 2015

SENK’LIP NEWS December - 2015 EDITION - OKANAGAN INDIAN BAND 12420 WESTSIDE ROAD VERNON, BC V1H 2A4 - FREE

Way x̌ ast sputaʔ Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

From the Okanagan Indian Band Chief, Council and Staff Students Bring Christmas Joy to Elders The students at the nkmaplqs i snmamayatn ikl sqilxʷtet Cultural Immersion School were busy throughout the month of November and December preparing traditional gifts and songs to give to the community elders at the Elders Luncheon on December 9, 2015.

The students introduced themselves and sang Christmas carols in Nsyilxcen. Students and staff created gifts of Pitch Salve, Mountain Tea, Baked Goods and a Beaded Lanyard for each of the 82 OKIB elders.

The students presented the gift bags to the elders in attendance; gift bags were delivered to those elders who were not able to attend the luncheon. The Students, Staff and Principal JoAnne Moiese wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Reminder to parents and students the first day back to school is January 4th, 2016.

Public Works and Housing: Anyone interested in Rental Housing need to ensure that their applica on is updated by January 15th of EVERY year.

To update your applica on you can request a new form by email or phone and send it back via email or fax. You can also call to update your applica on by phone.

Email: Tetku.coutlee@okanagan.org Phone: 250‐542‐3444 ext. 406 Fax 250‐542‐0541 SENK’LIP NEWS Editor: Shaylen Smith Ph: 250-542-4328 Fx: 250-542-4990 shaylen.smith@okanagan.org

Chief: Byron Louis Councillors: Homer Alexis, Lyle Brewer, Barbara (June) Cole, Tim Isaac, Allan Louis, Coola Louis, Dan Wilson, Raymond Marchand, Russell Williams and Leland Wilson

Community

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Council Mee ngs Schedule

Okanagan Indian Band Important Numbers CUT AND PLACE ON YOUR FRIDGE!

Regular Scheduled Mee ngs First Tuesday of the Month: 9:00am to 4:00pm Second Tuesday of the Month:

5:30pm to 9:30pm

Third Tuesday of the Month: 9:00am to 4:00pm Changes to the schedule and community mee ngs/emergency mee ngs will be communicated to the membership in the following ways: www.okib.ca www.facebook.com/OkanaganBand www.twi er.com/OkanaganBand

Emergency/Fire/Ambulance: OKIB Volunteer Fire Dept. (non‐emergency) Water: Band Buildings Child and Family Services (emergency)

Main Band Office Toll Free

Okanagan Na on Crisis Response Kids Help Phone HealthLinkBC MCFD Helpline for Children Vernon Women’s Shelter Vernon Food Bank

911 250‐542‐9212 250‐308‐8075 250‐306‐1363 250‐309‐2523

250‐542‐4328 1‐866‐542‐4328

1‐866‐662‐9609 1‐800‐668‐6868 8‐1‐1 310‐1234 250‐542‐1122 250‐549‐4111

Holiday Closures: The Okanagan Indian Band Administration will be closed during the holidays from noon on December 24, 2015 and will reopen January 4th, 2016 with regular office hours from 8:00am - 4:30pm, closing for lunch from 12:00 - 1:00pm.

Email: marciadawson@shaw.ca To register before January 8th, 2016

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Community Announcements Community Engagement Information

on the OKIB website in the members only section; you can also pick Currently OKIB’s elections are up copies from the Band office. governed under the Indian Act. The OKIB will be hosting an engagefederal government has created a ment process to discuss the option new law to give an additional opof the First Nation Election Act tion for Indian Bands that do not with the community in 2016. Any want or do not have their own Cus- questions or comments can be tom Election Code. This law is emailed to engagcalled the First Nations Election ment@okanagan.org.

Act; the regulations were released on April 2, 2015 meaning OKIB can opt in to this process. For OKIB to opt into the First Nations Election Act, Council must submit Information packages are being a Band Council Resolution a mini- mailed out to the membership on mum of 6 months prior to the 2017 the following: election date. More information Draft -Section 12 Membership about the First Nations Election Transfer Policy Act can be found on the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada web- Draft - Community Engagement Policy site at https://www.aadncaandc.gc.ca/ Feedback/survey forms eng/1323195944486/13231960055 First Nations Election Act 95 A comparison chart is being mailed These documents will be available to view in the Members Only secout to explain the difference betion of the OKIB website, or pick tween elections under the Indian up at the Band office.

Act and elections under the First

First NaƟons ElecƟon Act

Nations Election Act. Copies of the comparison chart will be available

Employment Opportunities:

www.okib.ca

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OKIB Youth

Elders and Students visiting during the Christmas Luncheon on December 9, 2016

The deadline to submit arƟcles, poems or other items for publicaƟon is the 3rd Friday of each month. Please send your submissions to shaylen.smith@okanagan.org.