Oliver council to start meetings with Indigenous land acknowledgements

Photo: OIB

Oliver council has unanimously supported a motion to add local Indigenous territory acknowledgements to its meetings.

Back in March, the Community to Community Forum members discussed land acknowledgement for Osoyoos Indian Band.

From this, discussion ensued with OIB Chief Clarence Louie offering word suggestions. Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen drafted the land acknowledgement and sought approval from the band.

“Ultimately, it was up to them to approve it and give feedback if they thought they wanted something else and this is what came back and I really feel good about taking lead from the Osoyoos Indian band,” Johansen said.

The acknowledgement was agreed upon by council to be read at the start of every twice-monthly council meeting.

It states: “The Town of Oliver acknowledges it is situated on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Osoyoos Indian Band within the Okanagan Nation. We give honour and pay respect to the Osoyoos Indian Band and its people.”