OC鈥檚 Salmon Arm campus flies 厂别肠飞别辫别尘肠耻虂濒虚别肠飞 flag permanently
Okanagan College Media Release
A 厂别肠飞别辫别尘肠耻虂濒虚别肠飞 flag has found a permanent home at Okanagan College鈥s Salmon Arm campus after a historic ceremony today.
Representatives of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, Splatsin Indian Band, Neskonlith Indian Band, Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band and Adams Lake Indian Band and Okanagan College gathered today for a flag raising ceremony recognizing the traditional unceded territories of the Secwepemc.
鈥Reconciliation is about action, not words. Today鈥s raising of the Secwepemc flag signals Okanagan College鈥s commitment to the TRC鈥s call to action,鈥 said Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, Chief of Splatsin Band and Tribal Chief Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.
鈥Okanagan College values and respects Indigenous culture and ways of knowing,鈥 says Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. 鈥We also deeply value the relationships we continue to strengthen with Indigenous people in the region. Flying the 厂别肠飞别辫别尘肠耻虂濒虚别肠飞 flag is just one way of acknowledging the Secwepemc on whose traditional territory we live, work and learn. Our students and staff will see this symbol of respect each day, raised as a step toward and in the spirit of reconciliation.鈥
Today鈥s flag raising is the third ceremony recognizing Indigenous peoples in whose lands the College resides. The College raised a permanent ONA flag at the Kelowna campus in June and a permanent ONA flag at the Vernon campus in July.
鈥Indigenization is about learning more about Indigenous knowledge, people and place,鈥 says Juliette Cunningham, member of the Okanagan College Board of Governors. 鈥The Salmon Arm campus is and has always been enriched by the sharing of culture that happens continually thanks to the dialogue and flow of knowledge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, staff, elders and community members.鈥
At the ceremony, dignitaries spoke about the relationship between the College and Indigenous people in the region. Louis Thomas, a Traditional Knowledge Keeper and Councillor for Neskonlith Indian Band opened the ceremony with a blessing.
The flag builds on the Indigenous physical presence at the Salmon Arm campus, which includes the Indigenous Gathering Space that opened in fall of 2009.
The ceremony was livestreamed on the College鈥s . Photos from the ceremony can be found on the College's .
Tags: Salmon Arm