WFN News

The below statement is pulled directly from the Okanagan Nation Alliance's website and can be found here .   PRESS STATEMENT  | August 24, 2026 tkwə ɬ niwt (Westbank), Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory: Recently, we have witnessed much discussion regarding the provincial government’s initiatives to settle with various nations in this province. Despite expected criticism and fear-mongering, none of these now-settled claims appear to impact private ownership of land.

The below statement is pulled directly from the Okanagan Nation Alliance's website and can be found here . MEDIA RELEASE | July 28, 2026 stqa ʔ tkwłniw ̓ t, Westbank, Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory: The Syilx Okanagan Nation is renewing its call for the Government of Canada to immediately issue an Emergency Protection Order under Section 80 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to protect endangered styíłca̓ɂ (caribou) and their critical habitat. The Syilx Okanagan Nation...

Westbank First Nation is deeply concerned and disappointed that Dallas Brodie, an individual widely associated with residential school denialism, has been invited to hold a public event within our traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory this weekend. Residential schools are not a matter of opinion or political debate. The experiences of Survivors, the intergenerational impacts on Indigenous families and communities, and the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are well...

May 5th, 2026 is Red Dress Day. A day to remember and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). For some, Red Dress Day is a reminder of continued injustices perpetuated by systemic, gender-based, and racialized violence. For many, these injustices are more than a day or reminder, they’re a continued and lived experience. 61% of Indigenous women experience intimate partner violence. 60% of Indigenous women experience...

The below statement is pulled directly from the Okanagan Nation Alliance's website and can be found  here . tkwəɬniwt (Westbank, BC), Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory:  The Syilx Okanagan Nation (Nation) is calling on Premier David Eby and the Province of British Columbia to correct the record on what it has heard from First Nations regarding its proposed unilateral suspension of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and section 8.1(3) of the Interpretation...

The below statement is pulled directly from the Okanagan Nation Alliance's website and can be found  here . tkwəɬniwt (Westbank, BC), Syilx Okanagan Nation Territory:  The Syilx Okanagan Chiefs Executive Council stands with Joan Phillip, MLA, in her principled decision not to support the suspension of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Her position reflects the strength of leadership our people expect and a commitment to uphold the Province’s...

By Chief Robert Louie Westbank First Nation is a national leader in welcoming and developing business in our territory. We depend on it. For over twenty years we have proven that when done right, it enriches the lives of our people and everyone in BC. So, when Premier Eby misrepresents what BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous...

Westbank First Nation is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge. When something like this happens, its impact reaches far beyond one community. Like many of you, we feel sadness, anger, worry, and heaviness. This tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the importance of supporting the wellbeing and safety of our young people and ensuring they feel cared for, connected, and supported. We must continue to foster respectful connections with our school districts,...

Westbank First Nation (WFN) held its Chief and Council election last night, with strong community participation. Of 741 eligible voters, 401 cast their ballots. WFN is pleased to announce that y ̓ lmix ʷ m Chief Robert Louie has been re-elected, joined by returning Councillors Jordan Coble, Sara Tronson, and Andrea Alexander. The Council also welcomes back Mike DeGuevara, who returns with 14 years of Council experience across five previous terms. Together, the Chief and Council bring...