Band maintains ownership of road

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 30, 2009 6:00 PM

The fate of a Vernon road remains uncertain. The Okanagan Indian Band continues to insist it owns Lakeshore Road from Tronson Road to Vernon Creek, and that it will take “appropriate steps” to protect reserve land from trespass and abuse. “We are looking at all of our avenues including legal. We’re not saying we will do anything yet,” Chief Fabian Alexis told The Morning Star. In late May, the band indicated the road could be shut down, but Alexis would not comment on that possibility. The band has issued letters to the Department of Indian Affairs, the provincial government, the City of Vernon and the RCMP regarding the matter. “We never surrendered ownership,” said Alexis, adding that the band’s case is documented.In a press release, the band council states development of Lakeshore Road never followed legal requirements and a specific claim has been filed with the federal government.“The band’s concerns are exacerbated by the fact that some local residents use the road to gain vehicular access to the band’s Kin Beach, where their conduct has given rise to band concerns for public health, safety and proper land use.”

Vernon’s mayor questions what the band means by “appropriate steps.” “It doesn’t say when or how. It doesn’t give any information to work with or information to work with the band,” said Wayne Lippert. “For us to understand their issues, we need to talk and if they won’t talk to us, that makes it very difficult for us.” While the band states the beach has been abused by the public, Lippert says the city was willing to initiate a $733,000 project at very little cost to the band.“We had an agreement to do some improvements there. When they turned us down, I questioned what their concerns really were,” he said.

The city claims it has authority over the road right-of-way. “The road was a travelled route before 1938 when the reserve was set up. There are documents that show the road was originally known as Lake Drive and that goes back to 1910,” said Lippert.