44 year old Alex Louie, a first cousin to Chief Clarence Louie says he has been nominated and will campaign to win.

Nominations for the Osoyoos Indian Band concluded last week with the election set for Thursday February 21. Positions for four councillors and one chief are open for a two year term.

The younger Louie says he has two main planks on his platform:

1. the right of choice of way of life and a band portfolio or department for culture to make things happen

2. the necessity of a food co-op and a bank or credit union to control  band money

Alex Louie says he has a lot of respect for the Economic Development model promoted by Chief Louie but he says his background of working at many jobs, on an assembly line, in a union or local management has given him a different view of the world.

“Senk’lip”  (native name) says the people promoting him want a more traditional way of life with less influence of the corporate/colonial world. Louie says he has sponsored the Spotted Lake ceremonial event for 11 years and worked for the Okanagan Basin Water Board on documenting the river and lakes along with the debate about water use in the South Okanagan.

Alex Louie says he is an activist with a headman’s background. He says there are many fights ahead and the Idle No More movement is similar to other recent non-aboriginal protests that point out the controlling nature of Wall Street, big banks and the corporate world.

He says he plans an open band meeting soon to seek the opinion of the people of the OIB.

Present band council include:

Chief Louie and Councillors Theresa Gabriel, Ronny McGinnis, Tony Baptiste and Charlotte Stringham.

Those four have been nominated along with 11 others:  Mike Gallagher, Ramona Bent, Sandra Falkus, Yvonne Weinert, Darlene George, Pauline George,  Moses Baptiste, Terry Baptiste, Raylene Baptiste,  Sam Baptiste and Leona Baptiste.