Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News Published: September 03, 2009 6:00 PM
Okanagan Lake has been targeted as one of Westbank First Nation’s rights and title claims.The WFN’s claim to this valley’s namesake was confirmed July 14 in a letter addressed to West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater.In the correspondence, manager of intergovernmental affairs Raf DeGuevara stated that the WFN is claiming rights and title to the foreshore and water areas that fall within the municipality’s boundaries. At the time, DeGuevara was writing to indicate the WFN’s conditional support for West Kelowna’s proposed license of occupation for Gellatly Bay, which the municipality is seeking in order to regulate houseboat moorage.
However, statements made in the correspondence make direct reference to the band’s claim over a large portion of the lake.“Support of this license is provided without prejudice to the aboriginal title and rights claims of the WFN,” he stated. “The WFN will be filing a specific claim respecting the loss of foreshore lands of the WFN due to the construction of the dam located at the south end of Okanagan Lake. ”In a follow up conversation, WFN Chief Robert Louie clarified that his band asserts title and rights to all portions of Okanagan Lake within its traditional territory, spanning from an area south of Peachland to areas north, near Lake Country and the North Westside.
“Yes, it is a significant claim, but, our people have been using the lake for thousands of years,” Louie explained.The WFN is currently fine tuning the details of the claim, which could include demands for joint jurisdiction and revenue sharing agreements, said Louie.The WFN will also work closely with the Okanagan Nation Alliance in respect of other areas of the lake which fall within the traditional territory of bands in Penticton and Vernon.
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