Osoyoos Indian Band
First Nation government in British Columbia, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Osoyoos Indian Band (Okanagan: Swiw̓s) is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located in the adjacent towns of Oliver and Osoyoos in the Okanagan valley, approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the Canada–United States border.[2] They are a member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance. The band controls about 32,000 acres of land in the Oliver-Osoyoos area.[3][4]
| Band No. 596 | |
| People | Okanagan people |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Oliver |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Osoyoos 1 |
| Reserve | Osoyoos 3
|
| Land area | 130.738 km2 (50.478 sq mi) |
| Population (2025) | |
| On reserve | 365 |
| On other land | 61 |
| Off reserve | 176 |
| Total population | 602 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Clarence Louie |
| Tribal Council | |
| Okanagan Nation Alliance | |
| Website | |
| oib | |
| [1] | |
The band's Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre (pronounced "in-ka-meep") is located on the east side of Osoyoos.[5] The centre gives tours in the arid region (similar to desert, but actually shrub-steppe) and explains the uniqueness of the plant and animal species found there.
As of 2025, the chief of the band is Clarence Louie.[2][4] Louie has pushed for economic self-reliance by expanding investments, including a vineyard and winery, a four-star resort, numerous consumer services, and an 18-hole golf course.[3]
There are about 540 band members who live and work on the reserve.[4]
Gallery
Inuksuk on shore of sw̓iw̓s Provincial Park operated by Osoyoos Indian Band, Osoyoos Lake, Osoyoos, British Columbia
