Kelowna

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and its member communities have renewed a memorandum of understanding with UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Photo: Contributed

Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie and Deborah Buszard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UBC's Okanagan campus, sign a memorandum of understanding between the Okanagan Nation Alliance and UBC on Friday morning.

Since welcoming UBC to its territorial lands when the campus was created in 2005, the Okanagan Nation has established a long-term relationship with the university. The understanding with UBC underlines the importance, opportunities and benefits of higher education for Indigenous People of the Southern Interior.

ONA Chair Stewart Phillip, Grand Chief of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, says the bonds developed with UBC are very important to the Okanagan people.

“The renewal of the MOU continues to embrace the spirit and intent of the original signing which values distinct cultures, languages, territory,  life-long excellence in learning and respect for  Indigenous Peoples and their lands," says Grand Chief Phillip.

Deborah Buszard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UBC's Okanagan campus, says the Okanagan people, their traditions, culture and future are essential to the university.

“We are honoured that UBC has been welcomed into the traditional territory of the Okanagan Nation, and are thankful that we have been so warmly embraced by the Aboriginal community,” says Buszard.

“Renewing our agreement with the Okanagan Nation Alliance ensures that the opportunities for higher education will continue to be available to these First Nations of the Southern Interior. Our joint initiatives are dedicated to this goal and reflect the high value we put on our relationship.”

The agreement between the Okanagan Nation Alliance and UBC was signed on Friday, Sept. 28 in the Aboriginal Student Centre at UBC’s Okanagan campus.