Aboriginal culture is respected and celebrated in Osoyoos.
The city's name comes from the Syilx (Okanagan Nation) language. The word "Souyoos" indicates a narrow waterway or where the land almost meets, describing the geography of Osoyoos Lake.
Archeological evidence shows that Aboriginal people have lived in the area for thousands of years, making a good living by carefully using the resources of land and water and trading with their neighbours.
Today, about 450 members of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) live on the 12,950ha/32,000ac Osoyoos Indian Reserve, contributing to the social life and economy of the region. The OIB is considered to be a leader in aboriginal economic development in Canada.
The Osoyoos Indian Band interprets the Aboriginal culture of the Okanagan Nation for visitors to Osoyoos at the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre.
Set in 20ha/50ac of the highly endangered antelope brush ecosystem, the centre seamlessly blends into the natural environment with a grass roof and rammed earth façade that echoes the landscape. Exhibits are arranged in both indoor and outdoor galleries.
Aboriginal Lifestyle and Crafts
Displays showcase a variety of artifacts along with art, bead and basketwork. A six-minute multi-sensory presentation featuring the voice of an elder and images on four plasma screens evokes a sense of life in a winter home. Coyote the Transformer leads a journey of discovery via an original movie in the 80-seat Chaptik Legend Theatre and the Critter Corner provides a window on local wildlife.
Endangered Western Rattlesnake
Biologists host talks about the OIB's research on endangered western rattlesnakes in the outdoor Living Lands gallery where metal, rock and water sculptures depict the daily life of a hunter-gatherer people and their close ties with nature.
Recreated Okanagan Village
Dig into a demonstration archeological site, see inside a bat box and listen to stories in a tule mat tepee. From here, guided and self-guided walks follow gravel pathways through the desert to a recreated Okanagan village with two winter pit houses, a summer tepee and a sweathouse. Deer and other wildlife sightings are not uncommon.
Inkameep Day School Art
At a time when Aboriginal children were routinely sent to boarding schools, chief George Baptiste personally financed a school on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve. Between 1932 and 1942, the school's teacher was a Caucasian man named Anthony Walsh. Unlike many Caucasians of the time, he was interested in aboriginal culture and encouraged the children's art and story telling.
The students of Inkameep Day School won recognition at Commonwealth competitions for their art, which chronicled the day-to-day life of Aboriginal people of the time, and their work toured Europe to widespread acclaim. They also produced plays based on the animal characters and stories of their people, and later their songs and dances.
Can-Oos-Sez-Skay-Loo
The little troop, called Can-Oos-Sez-Skay-Loo (the Animal People), toured the region giving public performances, with many of the proceeds going to the war effort. They were invited to perform at the opening of Thunderbird Park near the BC Legislature in Victoria and record their songs for the CBC in Vancouver.
Their masks, theatrical props and most of the artwork was destroyed by the teacher who followed Walsh at the school, but a local woman managed to save some of the pictures and they were eventually donated to the Osoyoos Museum and later returned to the Osoyoos Indian Band. See examples at the museum and in the Inkameep Day School exhibit at the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre.
Spotted Lake
Spotted Lake, known in the Syilx language as "Klil'xw", is sacred to the Okanagan People. Located 8km/5mi west of Osoyoos along Highway 3, this body of water is a truly unique sight with 365 coloured circles, each believed to have its own medicine and healing power.
Sacred Site
Spotted Lake is one of the most highly mineralized inland lakes in the world. The spots are the result of summertime evaporation when the minerals crystallize, forming the circles on the water's surface. The lake has remained almost unchanged since prehistoric times and continues to be the site of yearly ceremonies. View Spotted Lake only from the observation area off the highway.
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