Kelowna’s People: Land Development and Wine Making

Westbank First Nation

One Okanagan, BC winery is owned and operated by the Nk’Mip Aborginal peoples in Osoyoos, BC, Canada; but the Westbank First Nations (WFN) aggressively developed land into the Westbank Hub Centre shopping mall, Lakeridge Park residential area and a golf course in Westbank. One section of Westbank First Nation (WFN) land borders Lake Okanagan and is located in West Kelowna, an area that can be reached by driving from Kelowna over the Okanagan Lake Bridge. Westbank, the WFN land’s modern-day name, was first designated reserve land after the passage of the Government of Canada’s Indian Act in 1876. The Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve Numbers 9 and 10 belong to the Westbank Indian Band that, until 1963, was part of the larger Okanagan Indian Band based in Vernon, BC. After 15 years of negotiation among its own members as well as the governments of BC and Canada, in 2005 the Westbank Indian Band achieved the status of Westbank First Nation (WFN). As a result, all persons residing or doing business on the reserve are subject to WFN laws.