The essence of non-announcement by the Federal Minister responsible for Parks Canada. Speaking at Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos this morning Catherine McKenna says talks heading toward a park will commence again with consultation first – with Indigenous communities, Bands, Towns and the business sector.

Today, three communities of the Syilx/Okanagan Nation, alongside the Governments of Canada and British Columbia, announced a renewed commitment to work together to establish a new national park reserve in the South Okanagan. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, George Heyman, and Chief Clarence Louie, Chief Crow and Chief Chad Eneas, representing the three Southern Communities of the Syilx/Okanagan Nation, made the announcement at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos.

“The collaborative work to develop national park reserve in the South Okanagan started decades ago. In 2002, I along with Senator Ross Fitzpatrick and others went to Ottawa to meet with the Prime Minister’s staff to explore the possibility of a national park in the South Okanagan. More recently, in 2011 the Osoyoos Indian Band and Lower Similkameen Indian Band took the lead on behalf of the Okanagan Nation to develop a Syilx Feasibility Study to allow for the inclusion of the Okanagan Nation perspectives. The funding provided to these two Bands resulted in the formation of the Syilx Parks Working Group, which completed its final report on December 18, 2012. Now, five years later we look forward to re-establishing the same process and implementing the recommendations of the Syilx Parks Working Group in light of the new advancements that have been made toward a new relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership, which promotes a lasting reconciliation,” said Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band.