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Aboriginal Tours

From time immemorial, the Syilx have lived in the Okanagan Valley as well as territories east and west of the Okanagan River system. As part of the Okanagan Nation, members of the Osoyoos Indian Band have a proud and independent history in the Oliver and Osoyoos area. Excavations in Osoyoos show that the aboriginal people have lived here for thousands of years, harvesting the resources of the land. Chinook and Sockeye salmon, deer, roots, and berries were smoked or dried for winter supplies. The land also provided plants for medicines, cottonwood trees to make dugout canoes and wood for building winter pit houses. In the summer, people travelled by canoes or horses to fishing and gathering spots.Their summer homes were portable tipis covered in cattail or bulrush mats. Each generation passed on the techniques for harvesting the rich and diverse resources, travelling widely throughout the mountains and valleys and trading with First Nations neighbours. This was a dynamic working culture that sustained the Okanagan people for thousands of years.

Chaptikw stories were an important source of community knowledge and values. Many stories feature Senk'lip Coyote, who helped change the world so the Okanagan People could survive on this land. Kill'xw in the Okanagan language or Spotted Lake has long been considered a sacred lake because of its healing properties. Special minerals, similar to Epsom salts, give the lake its unique colors which change from green to white through the seasons. Under the summer sun, the lake waters evaporate and crystallized minerals form white rimmed circles. It is said that there are circles for every day of the year. Aboriginal people continue to come to this lake for yearly ceremonies. For many years, the lake was privately owned but was returned to the Okanagan Nation in 2001. Visitors can view the lake from a small parking area off the road, but are asked not to walk down to the lake.

As visitors travel along valley roads they may see ancient rock paintings, which are found throughout Okanagan territory. The red paint is made from a natural red mineral pigment found in the Tulameen and Similkameen Valleys. The paintings are centuries old and have different interpretations including representations of dreams, events, stories, or vision quests.

After the arrival of settlers and the establishment of the Osoyoos Indian Reserve, aboriginal people adapted to ranching, farming and breeding horses. The people of the Osoyoos Indian Band have continued to change with the times. Today 450 people live on the 32,000 acre reserve working in the band's many businesses. NK'Mip Cellars is Canada's first aboriginal-owned winery. The band first planted grapes forty years ago and owns 230 acres of prime Vinifera and French hybrid grapes, and also leases land to some of the Okanagan's biggest wine producers. Many award winning wines have been produced from these locally-grown grapes.

NK'Mip Resort is the band's newest enterprise, which includes Sonora Dunes golf course. Spirit Ridge Resort and Spa, NK'Mip RV Park and NK'Mip Desert Cultural Centre.