Land Use Planning
The Okanagan Indian Band has recently finalized Land Use Plans. These Plans outline our vision and guiding principles for land use on our community-held lands and are the result of extensive community engagement.
Land Use Planning has been broken down into two phases to give a better understanding of timelines and plans for OKIB land moving forward.
Began in 2013, addresses land use on the community-held (Band) lands on the Okanagan 1, Okanagan 4 (Swan Lake) and Duck Lake 7 reserves, as well as the community’s private land holdings. During this initial phase it became clear that there were several areas on reserve in which further community engagement and input was required.
In 2018 the community began Phase 2 Land Use Plans which looked at two of these areas: the Goose Lake and Madeline Lake ranges. The goal of this new phase was to gain a better understanding of what community members want for these lands moving forward.
Development and use of these sites have historically been and continues to be limited due to uncertainty resulting from the former use of the lands as military ranges, including incomplete information as to the potential presence and location of Unexploded Ordinances and munitions scrap (UXOs).
Once the ranges are confirmed free of unexploded ordnance (UXO), any necessary UXO cleanup and other required remediation will take place, and more opportunities will become available for Goose Lake and Madeline Lake ranges. Negotiations are ongoing with the Department of National Defence and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Through this work, our goal is to return these lands to a safe state for future generations of OKIB members to use and enjoy.
The Phase 2 Plans help provide clarity on what these opportunities may include.
For further information regarding these Plans, please reach out the OKIB Lands Department as per the contact information below.
Contact Information
Sherry Louis | Lands Director
sherry.louis@okanagan.org