Members of Westbank First Nation along with Okanagan College students, employees and local community members came together at Okanagan College's Kelowna campus last Friday for an historic announcement as Westbank First Nation Elders provided two Syilx Okanagan names for the newly opened student housing building on the Kelowna campus.
(Front row from left) Elders Grouse and Pamela Barnes are joined by OC's director of Indigenous relations and reconciliation Rhea Dupuis, student Brent Basil, Anthony Isaac, OC'S Manager of Indigenous Services as well as other dignitaries at the Kelowna student housing naming ceremony.
In providing the names, Syilx Okanagan Nation Elders Pamela and Grouse Barnes considered the design of the building, which includes an Indigenous feather design created by Syilx artist Clint George on the exterior and Indigenous story poles created by Syilx artist Les Louis in the common living area of the building.
