senklip - april 2016
DESCRIPTION
The April 2016 edition of the OKIB Senklip newspaperTRANSCRIPT
SENK’LIP NEWS April - 2016 EDITION - OKANAGAN INDIAN BAND 12420 WESTSIDE ROAD VERNON, BC V1H 2A4 - FREE
SENK’LIP NEWS
Editor: Shaylen Smith
Chief: Byron Louis
Councillors: Homer Alexis, Lyle Brewer, Barbara (June)
Cole, Tim Isaac, Allan Louis, Coola Louis, Dan Wilson, Ray-
mond Marchand, Russell Williams and Leland Wilson
Ph: 250-542-4328
Fx: 250-542-4990
OKIB Youth
Earn Yellow
Belts The OKIB hosts Taekwondo classes every
Monday and Wednesday at the Head of
the Lake Hall. The Taekowndo program
began in September and will end in June;
classes run from 4:00pm to 5:00pm.
After 19 classes and lots of hard work, 11
dedicated OKIB youth have succeeded in
earning their first belt in a martial art.
Liam Marchand and Emmarie Louis re-
ceived their yellow stripes and the rest of
the group received their yellow belt.
The program is open to youth between
the ages of 6 -17 years. Anyone interested
in finding out more information about
bussing, or to register can call Mario Rich-
ard, OKIB Youth Worker at 250-542-5094.
Photographed on March 12, 2016 from left to right: Back row - David White (Instructor), Keanu Louie, Maria Alexis, Sienna Belanger-Lee, Aaron Edwards, Delaney Marchand, Shelby
Richard and Mario Richard. Front Row - Liam Marchand, Emmarie Louis, McKayla Bonneau, Serena Apsassin and Devon Gregoire-Gabriel.
for youth, artists, athletes, and elders
to be interviewed for upcoming issues of
the Senk’ lip.
Please send the following information in an
email, or drop off at the band office:
First & Last Name
Suggested focus/topic for the story (talent,
knowledge, history, skills)
How to contact the person (phone, email, or
address)
Emails can be sent to
Community Page 2
Okanagan Indian Band Important Numbers CUT AND PLACE ON YOUR FRIDGE!
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Emergency OKIB Volunteer Fire Dept. Water Buildings Main Band Office Toll Free Administration Education/Training Human Resources Membership Finance Health Social Development and Training Head of the Lake Hall New Horizons Snc’c’amalta?tn Daycare and School Cultural Immersion School Public Works and Housing/Lands Territorial Stewardship/Research
911 250-545-4111 250-308-8075 250-306-1363 250-542-4328 1-866-542-4328 250-542-5094 250-558-3706 250-558-1414 250-545-2402 250-545-3800 250-260-3616 250-542-3444 250-542-7132
Council Meetings Schedule
Regular Scheduled Meetings
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 meetings/emergency
meetings will be communicated to the membership in the fol-
lowing ways:
www.okib.ca
www.facebook.com/OkanaganBand
www.twitter.com/OkanaganBand
Process
All requests to be added to the Chief and Council’s agenda must be sub-
mitted to the Executive Director by Wednesday at 4:30pm the week be-
fore the next meeting. Agenda items are reviewed and approved by the
Executive Director and Chief on Thursday afternoon. Contact Stacy Yow,
Executive Assistant to Council: 250-542-4328 ext. 210, or by email at
OKIB members, if you have moved, please update your address with the Band Office.
Members who sign up for the Senk’lip will receive the other important mail outs in-
cluding: community engagement information and annual/quarterly reports.
Call the band office, or email [email protected] to sign up.
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Culture & Language Page 3
The 7th Annual Okanagan Band School Conference was
held February 18 and 19, 2016. The Penticton Indian Band
and Outma Sqilxw Cultural School hosted the event. This
year’s theme was “Language is Our Breath.” Keynote
speakers included Dr. Jeanette Armstrong, Dr. Kathryn
Michele, and Arnold Baptiste. Teachers and staff from
OKIB Immersion School and Snc’c’amalat?n attended the
conference.
Here is an update from one of the Education Assistants
from the Immersion School:
“Going to the 7th Annual Band Conference was a very re-
warding experience. I attended five interesting sessions:
1. How our Brains Learn From Birth to Adult
2. We Cook We Visit We Learn
3. Utilizing Technology and Electronic Resources to En-
hance Teaching of Language
4. Language Games in the Classroom
5. Learning on the Land from the Land
I was glad to see so much support all around for the chil-
dren. It was great practicing some new vocabulary and
seeing a mentor and apprentice showcase their unique
learning process while making fried bread.
In the technology workshop I learned about a program that
digitizes audio resources. I got a booklet of 12 new lan-
guage games that I'm sure the students will love and will
help make learning the language fun while reinforcing their
knowledge. It was helpful to see some methods to engage
students in the classroom such as brain breaks, moving
around more, getting outside, and listening to music.
Hearing Arnold speak from his heart on his passion of be-
ing on the land celebrating our culture and supporting the
children was so inspiring and fulfilling, and made me grate-
ful to be a part of our school, and that there are so many
opportunities to learn outside of the building.
Each day brought such positive dialogue surrounding the
hard work being done in our communities to improve the
educational experience. Thank you so much for the oppor-
tunity to attend.”
Kalli Van Stone
Williams Lake to Host 40th
Annual Elders Gathering
The Tl’etinqox (Anaham) Government is hosting the Elders Gathering under the theme: River Unity, River Spirit – “Keepers of the land and water” at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre and Thompson Rivers University from July 12 – 14, 2016.
This year’s event kicks off in true Cariboo style with the Wild Wild West Rodeo on July 11 at the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds.
The Chair of the Gathering Committee is Cecil Grinder. For more information and to register, please visit www.eldersgathering.ca or call Cecil Grinder at 250-394-4240; Dianne Garner, Director Elders Society 604-798-4519.
Culture and Language Page 4
Language Nest
The Children are comfortable saying Colors = blue, green, yellow, orange, red, purple, black and white Animals = eagle, bear, deer, moose, beaver, raccoon, butterfly, horse, cow, sheep, coyote, fox, cat, dog, and chicken. Body Parts = head, shoulders, eyes, ears, mouth, knees, toes, foot, arm, hair. Counting Elders = Tupa, intuma, Qaqana, Kikwa Sentences can say and fully understand.
“I want….” Crackers, pickles, raspberries, oranges, carrots yo-gurt, milk, and water. “How are you?” “Are you hungry” “Are you thirsty” “Are you tired” Action Words “Action Words” = stand up, sit down, turn around, walk, run, walk backwards, look, touch, put on coats, boots and hats. “Help me” “I don’t know” “put toys clean-up” “listen” “come here” “go there” “right here” “right there” The children have come a long ways and are starting to use more of our Okanagan language at school, home and while playing at the nest. Marnie Gregoire works at the Preschool in the mornings and she is hearing the language nest children use the language with her on a daily basis during their snack time settings. She says that other children who do not attend the nest are starting to use more language and she encour-ages all the children who want to engage. Also, families are noticing their children speak more at home and one family has incorporated a game to play as a family, “Go Fish” This is posi-tive feedback for our elders and language nest. The children are learning so much over the last five months
and it is awesome that the language nest children can be im-
mersed in the language at the daycare and preschool.
Silent Speakers Pilot Program The Okanagan Indian Band was chosen to participate in a Silent Speakers Pilot Project that was sponsored by First Na-tions Health Authority. The course is based on a successful program that was developed in Sweden with Indigenous Sami Peoples. The model uses cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to support silent speakers to overcome barriers to using their Indigenous language in their com-munities. Who is a Silent Speaker? A speaker is someone who may have a good understanding of the language but does not speak it. There are many differ-ent kinds of silent speakers. Here are some examples:
Residential school survivors People who had a parent who went to
residential school but grew up with a fluent grandparent in the home.
People who grew up hearing the lan-guage and can understand it but don’t speak it.
People who have studied extensively and developed a good knowledge of reading and writing, but do not speak the language.
Speakers who moved away from the
community for some time and do not feel comfortable speaking now that they have moved back.
Speakers who can speak a different dialect, so do not feel comfortable speaking within a community where another dialect is more com-mon.
Speakers who simply haven’t spoken for years because they haven’t re-ally had anyone to speak to.
Silent Speakers Participants: Paul Alexis, Hilda Belanger, Coralie Gregoire, Marnie Gregoire, Sharmaine Gregoire, Wally Louis, Carol Louie, Anne-belle Tronson, Mona Tronson, Lavina Wilson. Course summary Participants attended a ten-week course that ran from 4-6pm every Sunday which started on January 17 and ended on March 20, 2016. Participants met with a supportive fluent speaker once per week for up to an hour to help support their language acquisi-tion. Also, near the end of the program participants had the option of doing a mini internship. Participants spent three
hours a week in an environment where they had the opportunity to hear and use the language with Okanagan Indian Band Programs, Family Language Nights, Prayer Hymns, Language Nest, Daycare, and nkamplqs isnmamayatn klsqilxwtet school. Who taught the course? The course was led by a team of three people: Danielle Saddleman is the Co-Instructor
Community Specialist. She coordinat-ed the course at OKIB, connected par-ticipants with mentors and set up in-ternships for participants. Danielle al-so helped participants identify a lan-guage network to start building their language circle.
Suzanne Gessner is the Co-Instructor
Language Specialist. She works for First Peoplesʼ Cultural Council and taught participants how adults can learn to speak a language.
Holly Dalgleish is the Co-Instructor
Mental Health Specialist taught partici-pants CBT skills to help them work on speaking their language.
Community Engagement Page 5
The Okanagan Indian Band will be introducing a new format for
engaging the community this year. The community engage-
ment sessions will not be formal meetings; there will be booths
distributing information for the various projects and programs in
the organization.
At the engagement sessions Band members can visits booths,
provide feedback and gather information for the topics of inter-
est to you.
There will be prizes at each engagement session, tickets will
be distributed until 6:00pm and the draw will begin at 6:45pm.
Entrants must be present to claim their prize.
Community Engagement Sessions for 2016
Lake Country, BC – March 3, 2016
Representatives of the Okanagan Indi-
an Band met with the Regional District
of Lake Country (RDLC) in a Commu-
nity to Community Forum to discuss
items of mutual interest and build part-
nerships.
The meeting included a
round table of introduc-
tions from the 22 repre-
sentatives from each com-
munity and a lunch.
Common priorities to both communi-
ties include water/watershed issues,
neighbouring City of Kelowna, dams,
utilities and the Okanagan Rail Trail.
The OKIB is completing a cultural and
heritage policy which will address ar-
chaeological issues as they arise dur-
ing the construction of the Rail Trail.
The RDLC representatives were very
supportive during discussions of the
Commonage Claim and the opportuni-
ty for cultural tourism along the Rail
Trail; the RDLC went so far as to pass
a motion of “... support, in principle, to
work with the OKIB towards resolution
of land claims, titles and rights and
watershed protection.”
When the RDLC asked what OKIB’s
thoughts are about the Liberal govern-
ments’ commitment to building a new
relationship with First Nations, Chief
Louis reply was, “They have steak on
the menu, but on a bologna budget.”
He acknowledged the willingness is
there, but the ability to follow through
may be limited.
Community to Community
(C2C) Meeting
OKIB Chief, Council members, Directors and Staff attended
the C2C.
Snc’c’amala?tn Page 6
Snc’c’amala?tn News From the Manager
Lorraine Ladan
Welcome
We are happy to announce that Deana Rae Cohen was the successful can-
didate for the Early Childhood Educator position in the 3 to 5 Daycare /
Head Start Program. Rae is well known at the centre. She worked in the
Infant / Toddler Daycare Program a number of years back and has been
working on-call for us recently. Rae has excellent work experience and
brings valuable knowledge and skills to Snc’c’amala?tn.
School Photo Day
Rhonda Becker will be at Snc’c’amala?tn in the morning on Tuesday, April
19 for school class and group photos. You will be receiving a notice.
Rhonda has taken over Brenda Hala Photography and it has been renamed
Legacy Photography and Framing. Brenda was our photographer for many
years and passed away in 2015. Rhonda worked with Brenda.
Infant/Toddler
Way from the Infant Toddler Room
Spring is here and we will be going on more walks to Komasket. We will
look at the pit house and play at the park and explore the land.
The children are happy to play in the sand box outside and ride bikes.
We would like to welcome baby Sophie and baby Hawkwns to the I/T
room we are happy to have two new smiley faces in the room.
I would like to remind parents to pack extra clothes for their child/ren and
also a pair of splash pants.
Lim Limpt
Infant Toddler Staff
3 to 5 Year Old Daycare / Head Start
Way’
March 15th Head Start went on a nature walk with Mona Tronson our Cul-
tural Worker.
On our walk we saw and listened to:
K’ʷsixʷ ( canada geese )
spa’pqɬc’a ( winter weasel )
w’əs wáˁʷs xaˀ ( robin )
s-pwalx-qn ( red-headed woodpecker )
The children had a lot of fun.
March 18th Head Start participated in our School’s annual spring walk to
public works and back to the daycare. Way to go children and teachers.
Head Start parent night at the end of April will be our annual plant swap.
Please look for the flyer that well be sent home.
Denise Alexis, Jordyn Alexis, Rae Cohen, Tupa (Virginia)
Preschool
Way! From the Speplina Room
What did you see? (Nature Walk to the Beaver Dam)
Nevaeh – I seen a beaver house.
Gus – I did nothing. I didn’t see a beaver of a bird.
Kyley – A beaver house and a beaver was in the beaver house.
Brooklyn – I saw a big big bird. A P’qel qin
Abilynn – I don’t know.
Zoe – I saw the home of the beaver.
Keziah – 2 snail shells.
Rydell – I seen a beaver house. I heard a pheasant.
Ivorie – I seen the beaver house and the beaver baby house, now that’s it.
Gabriel – I didn’t see anything. I didn’t see the beaver. I seen rocks and
sticks.
Kimora – I found some sticks and rocks.
Kindley – The lake and rocks.
Owen – I said “what’s inside of the dam?”
Luke – Points to a tree.
Thank you,
Karla, Ramona, Marnie and Tupa
Kindergarten
Wai from the P’qel qin room,
Report Cards were sent home during student LED Conferences. Hope the
kids enjoyed their two week spring break.
Mrs. Alexis and Trish
Public Works & Housing
recently completed a
renovation of the
Snc’c’amala?tn play-
ground including the
removal of the outdated
rubber matting under
the swings, replacing
the rubber mats with
SPF wood chips and fill-
ing in the sand for the
sandboxes.
The renovation has im-
proved the health and
safety of the children
and staff.
Education Page 7
Class
of
2016
Roll Call for Okanagan Indian Band Members
If you are graduating Grade 12 Student or Post-
Secondary Graduate for the school year of 2015-
2016, we would like to know about it.
Details to include in your response:
Full Legal Name
Parental Information
Secondary School/Academic Institute
Graduation Photo (jpeg)(optional)
Accomplishments/Awards/Scholarships (optional)
Brief inspirational message-up to 50 words
(optional)
Please contact the Education Department either by
telephone 250-558-3706 or
email: [email protected]
POST SECONDARY FUNDING APPLICATION DEADLINES - APRIL 30th
Health Department
Patient Travel Coordinator
hours are Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesdays from 8am-
noon and 1:00pm-4:30pm.
Community Page 8
UXO Update: A start to another
great year The UXO department has been busy with the pre planning
training for students to attend TEEX Texas, Notra Inc. the UXO con-
tractor for DND has early spring work, security for the Madeline site,
UXO schools awareness program.
The training is provided by the Department of National De-
fense(DND), they have provided funding to train 3 UXO techs per
year over a 3 period, Advertising, recruiting members, student selec-
tion completed for the 2016 season. The 3 students will be attending
are: Alexis Gregoire, David Cullen and Mark Opphiemer, are the
three students who will be leaving April 8th, 2016 for the 4 week
course returning early May.
OKIB and Notra (UXO contractor) are doing an assessment
at Madeline Lake range. DND had slippage monies to do extra as-
sessment work early this spring. The assessment work includes us-
ing a large metal detector (EM unit) to go over the ground that DND
formally used. This work will provide Notra, DND and OKIB with a
more accurate mapping of the land to determine where the UXO’s
lay. Once digging commences this information will be used to locate
the UXO’s
OKIB security is providing this service to for DND. When
Notra Inc. is not on site OKIB is providing security personal to main-
tain the site. OKIB security staff: Quinten Pierro, Trent John and
Mark Oppenhiemer.
OKIB is participating in the school program prompting aware-
ness program; along with the DND we prompt the dangers of an
UXO. The awareness program is provided to the Grade 3ers and up.
The awareness program is done for school district 22, St. James
and the Cultural Immersion School.
Ongoing meetings with DND and Defense Construction of
Canada (DCC) are planning upcoming season for both sites Made-
line Lake range Goose lake Range. A semiannual meeting with The
Department of Nation Defense is scheduled for early May 2016
Lim limpt
Don Louis, UXO Liaison
250-542-3444
Emmarie Louis assisting with educating about UXO’s