The Okanagan Indian Band is one of seven Bands located in Canada, and there are an additional twelve Bands in Washington comprising the Okanagan Nation Territory.
To add a little perspective, here are some interesting facts:
It encompasses an area of approximately 18 million acres
That is to say;
About the size of South Carolina
About the size of New Brunswick
Or large than Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined
It stretches from 15 km north of Revelstokes, British Columbia to Leavenworth, Washington
As the road goes it is 583 km from north of Revelstokes to Leavenworth.
The Okanagan Indian Band mural was completed in 2001.
Vernon is located on traditional Okanagan territory, and this mural is in honor of the rich aboriginal culture that Vernon is steeped in. Okanagan is the “Anglicized version of Suqnaqinx and refers to the Indigenous people of the Okanagan territory, it translates as - takes to the head or mind”.
The early 1800s was the time of first contact between present day Okanagan Indian Band memberships’ ancestors and European fur traders. As a matter of fact, the present day Westside Road is situated both on and adjacent to the Okanagan Trail that is widely known as the Hudson’s Bay Brigade Trail. From the perspective of the Okanagan people, the name, Hudson’s Bay Brigade Trail is not an accurate name; rather, present day Okanagan members call the Okanagan Trail, Nkwala’s Trail.
Chief Nkwala, was not only an Okanagan Indian Band Chief, he was also an important Okanagan Nation Chief whose life is chronicled from adolescence by George Dawson and through adulthood until his death in 1859 by the Hudson Bay Company fort journals.
This mural portrays two of the most significant animals in aboriginal culture - the eagle, considered to be the animal closest to the creator, which represents courage, spirit and bravery. And the wolf, a symbol of teachers and pathfinders, who has a strong sense of family while maintaining individualism. The middle shape is the spirit of the lake and its legendary creature the Ogopogo, or n'ha-a-itk in Salish. On the left side, the man with the cowboy hat is a well-known rodeo rider Tommy Gregoire. On the right side, the woman beside the horse represents the strength of women, and the people in front of her are the Chief of the Okanagan Indian Band from 1932-59, Pierre Louis, and his wife.
All the murals are well done paying tribute to the artist's talent and creativity for any passersby to enjoy.
The murals are numbered and we will showcase
#2 - Okanagan Indian Band
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