Modern Day First Nations in British Columbia

British Columbia is home to a large, Culturally Diverse and widespread Aboriginal Population

BC's Aboriginal People are called First Nations, which refers to those people who can trace their ancestry to the aboriginal people who inhabited the Province in the 18th century prior to the arrival of European and American immigrants. 

Today BC is home to 203 First Nations bands making up a diverse population of Aboriginal people, spread across the province with each Band having it's own interests and issues as well as unique culture. 

The Aboriginal people are continuing to break ties with the reservation in many ways in an effort to improve their status in both their own communities as well as within the Province. Currently The bands have their own variation of Government such as an election of Band Chiefs and band members who work together  towards improving the quality of Life for their members and are recognized by the Provincial and Federal Governments.

Some big poignant years in recent history for the current British Columbia First Nations people included the Sechelt Indian Band becoming the first Aboriginal Group in BC to gain a Municipal Style of Government in 1986. The year 2000 saw the signing of the Nisga'a Treaty which  was created through negotiation of the Nisga'a Nation, the Provincial and Federal Governments to allow for the  the first Constitutionally Protected Self Governing System in BC. The Nisga'a Nation have dwelled in the Nass area since time immemorial, 

Some of the Modern Day Aboriginal people include Gitxsan, Haida, Nisga'a, Squamish and the South Okanagan is home to the Okanagan People. 

Here in Osoyoos we are home to the Osoyoos Indian Band which are members of the Okanagan Nation who call themselves the Sylix People and are included in Formal Salish Interior  ethnological and linguistic grouping. 

The Osoyoos Indian Band has been led by Chief Clarence Louie and has been since the 1980's when he was first elected chief when he was just 24 years old. Under his leadership the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation was established to help ensure the thriving continuance of the Osoyoos Indian Band. One of the most successful achievements of the OIBDC has been the Creation of Nk'Mip Cellars which was the first Aboriginal owned and Operated Winery in North America. 

Today the Osoyoos Indian Band has 450 members, and controls 32,000 acres (13,000 ha) of land between Osoyoos and Oliver. The band continues to thrive financially under Chief Louie's Guidance with OIBDC currently maintaining nine businesses, including tourism, construction, and recreation companies.