Richard Armstrong (left) and Joey Pierre, both from the Penticton Indian Band, read a Declaration of Unity signed by the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Colville Confederated Tribes in Osoyoos on July 15. Armstrong read the document in the traditional Okanagan language and Pierre read it in English. Photo by Paul Everest - Click on picture for larger image

OSOYOOS TIMES - July 21, 2010

By Paul Everest - Osoyoos Times

Flanked by maps showing their territory in B.C. and Washington state, members of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) signed a Declaration of Unity at Osoyoos’s Spirit Ridge Vineyard and Resort on July 15.
Hundreds of members from bands on both sides of the border, including chiefs, councillors and elders, packed into the resort’s conference room for the signing, which took place as part of the alliance’s two-day annual general assembly.
The declaration is a formal document acknowledging the cultural, linguistic, political and economical connections between the alliance and the CCT.
Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band told the gathering that the alliance and the CCT are one nation that was cut in half by the international border between Canada and the U.S.
The idea of signing the declaration came out of talks between the alliance and the CCT about common concerns regarding land rights, government policies, issues with band members crossing the international border and fishing rights.
Pauline Terbaskett, the alliance’s executive director, said the idea for a formal declaration of unity came up at the alliance’s 2007 general assembly at the Ashnola Pow Wow ground in the Lower Similkameen Indian Band reserve.
But members of the alliance and the CCT have worked together on common issues since their communities were separated by various treaties of the U.S. and Canadian governments and the establishment of the border between B.C. and Washington state, she said.
Louie said that when the CCT asked to be part of the alliance’s tribal council, it was a “no brainer.”
When he saw the draft declaration, he questioned why lawyers and legal language was necessary to formalize what he sees as a family relationship among band members across the international boundary.
Louie added that the alliance voted at its tribal council this past year to recognize the CCT as part of the council.
The declaration signing follows the intent and spirit of the 1987 Okanagan Nation Declaration when the alliance’s seven bands — the Penticton Indian Band, the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, the Okanagan Indian Band, the Westbank First Nation and the Upper Nicola Indian Band — formalized and affirmed an atmosphere of cooperation they first began to establish in the 1970s.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the alliance’s chairman, said the unity declaration signing “has been a long time coming.”
Following a “long, dark night” of marginalization and economic repression, band members on both sides of the border are “reclaiming our nationhood,” he added.
Phillip described the relationship between the CCT and the alliance as “akin to a marriage” when it comes to culture, economics and politics.
He told the gathering that it was up to them to make sure the declaration is maintained as a “breathing, living document” and said the agreement will allow for the alliance and the CCT to continue a process of healing the erosion that has afflicted the shared culture and language of the two communities.
Mike Finley, the CCT’s business council chairman, told the gathering that he saw the declaration as a way to start educating young band members about the connections of family and land shared by the alliance and the CCT and added that the document is about bringing two families back together.
“People say this is a union,” he said. “I say this is a reunion.”
One concern that came up again and again during the meeting was the issue of alliance and CCT members crossing the border to see family or friends or conduct business.
With passport restrictions that came into effect last year, many members expressed frustrations at difficulties in crossing the border.
Louie advised the gathering to “always use your status cards” and said meetings were needed with border officials from both countries so traditional tribal items such as meats and berries can continue to cross the border.
After Joey Pierre from the Penticton Indian Band read the declaration in English and Richard Armstrong, also from the Penticton Indian Band read the document in the traditional Okanagan language, leaders from the alliance and CCT signed the declaration to the sounds of traditional Aboriginal drumming and cheers and applause from the gathering.
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