Government of Canada has invited Chief Clarence Louie to speak at several venues in Europe this summer.
Louie told ODN that this will allow a visit to Italy to honour one band member who fought in the World War 2 – Ernie (Batiste) George.

Louie says his council will join in this one leg of his trip.

Story below published in 2012

Recently we were given a tour of a cemetery on Osoyoos Indian Band land – this is a very old burial site that contains a lot of history and memories.

(Inkameep Native Reserve (St. Gregory Mission) – near Oliver (Osoyoos Indian Band)

There are two sites where members of the armed forces are buried and one memorial for a man buried in Italy.

Cpl. Ernie Baptiste (Batiste) George was killed in action in Italy in 1944. He was attached to the Canadian Infantry Corps (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish). He died 12 days before Christmas as the allies invaded North Italy. He was 26 years old.

Memorial Plaque at St. Gregory Mission Church – OIB Oliver BC. He is the son of Chief Narcisse George and Victoria George. He is buried and honoured at the Villanova Canadian war memorial in Italy. ( The memorial site is north of San Marino )

 

Lest we forget.