Okanagan Indian Band

09/04/2026

Community Update: Bradley Creek Wildfire Evacuation Order Partial Rescind

Effective 1700 Hours, September 4th, 2026, the Evacuation Order for an area of the K41351 Bradley Creek Wildland Fire has been RESCINDED.

For non band member households, please contact your landlord or property manager to ensure the property is ready prior to your return.

The Evacuation Order Rescind is in effect for properties in green on the map in the OKIB IR 1 reserve:


· Goat Trail Road except #5 and #175 shown in red
· Sqareilks Road except properties shown in red
· Louies Lane except #1 #7 and #43 shown in red
· Bunny Path Lane except #11 shown in red
· Laverman Drive except #17 shown in red
· Jennys Lane Drive
· 180 Irish Creek Road
· 740 St Annes Road
· All remaining properties on Abel Cove Road
· 12190 Westside Road

Please see the attached maps

Residents returning home are reminded that you may be returning to an area that has been affected by a significant wildfire. Conditions may look very different from when you left, and hazards may remain on individual properties and throughout the surrounding area. Please use caution, follow any posted directions and do not enter damaged properties or areas that have been restricted.

Returning home after a wildfire

-Residents returning to wildfire-affected areas should use caution. Even if your home was not directly damaged, smoke, soot, ash and other hazards may remain.

-Check your property before entering. Watch for structural damage, damaged trees, fallen power lines, sharp debris and other hazards. Do not enter a structure that appears unstable.

-Protect yourself during cleanup. Wear appropriate footwear, gloves and protective clothing. An N95 mask can help reduce exposure to ash, soot and fine particles.

-Replace your furnace and/or air conditioner filter. If outdoor air quality allows, open windows and use a fan to help circulate fresh air. Professional cleaning of ducts and air-conditioning systems may also be appropriate.

-Check food before using it. Refrigerated or frozen food may no longer be safe following an extended power outage. When in doubt, throw it out.

-Be careful with ash and soot. Wet wiping or mopping is preferred over dry dusting, and only vacuums equipped with a HEPA filter should be used for ash.

For information about safely returning to your home after a wildfire, please visit OKIB.ca to review the First Nations Health Authority Returning Home After a Wildfire information package.

https://fnha.ca/wp-content/uploads/migrated/Documents/FNHA-Returning-to-Your-Home-After-Wildfires.pdf

We also ask everyone returning to be mindful of their neighbours. Some homes and properties have been significantly damaged or lost, and families may be returning to very difficult circumstances.
Please respect private property, avoid entering or photographing damaged properties that are not your own, and give affected families the privacy and space they need.

Further updates will continue to be shared through OKIB’s official communication channels.

https://www.okib.ca/news/community-update-bradley-creek-wildfire-evacuation-order-partial-rescind-5/

09/02/2026

RFP: Story of Our Ways Contractor

Date Issued: September 1, 2026
RFP Number: RFP #09012026
Response Deadline: 09/25/2026, 4:00PM PDT

Purpose of the RFP

The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) is seeking proposals from a qualified contractor to coordinate and support the completion and publication of Stories of Our Sqilxw Ways II. This initiative builds on the original publication and aims to expand the resource to include the Four Food Chief sections, captikʷɬ (syilx stories), and supporting educational content, while ensuring the project remains grounded in syilx knowledge, values, and protocols.
The selected contractor will work closely with the OKIB Education Director, Language & Culture team, contributors, Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and contracted editors, designers, and publishers to coordinate outstanding content, project timelines, publication processes, and deliverables. The contractor will also coordinate with the separate captikʷɬ Documentation Contractor to support the appropriate integration of documented stories into the final publication.

View the full RFP on our website: https://www.okib.ca/opportunity/story-of-our-ways-ii-contractor/

Submission Instructions
1.Applicants must provide a detailed budget, including an hourly wage, anticipated expenses, and an estimated total cost for project completion.
2.Provide their approach to a Syilx methodology framework to deliver community engagements.
3.Provide, upon request, three professional references.
4.Completed bids should be submitted electronically as a single PDF to:
Email: [email protected]
Subject line: SOW II Contractor Proposal — [Bidder Name]
5.Proposals received after the deadline may not be considered. OKIB reserves the right to request clarifications, negotiate terms, or decline to award the contract.

For any questions regarding this RFP, please contact:
Name: Danielle Saddleman
Title: Director of Education, Language & Culture
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 250-241-4306
Company Address: Okanagan Indian Band
12420 Westside Road,
Vernon, BC V1H 2A4

Date Issued: September 1, 2026RFP Number: RFP Deadline: 09/25/2026, 4:00PM PDT Purpose of the RFP The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) is seeking proposals from a qualified contractor to coordinate […]

09/02/2026

Category 1 fire ban ending for Kamloops Fire Centre area - September 3rd, at 12:00pm noon

Effective at 12:00 noon Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on September 3, 2026 Category 1 campfires will be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Category 2 and category 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. As the campfire prohibition is being lifted, we ask the public to remain vigilant and follow all regulations when enjoying campfires.

A campfire is defined as:
Any fire no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide (a fire larger than this is considered a Category 2 fire).
Used by any person for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose.

More information is available on the BC Wildfire Service website
here:

https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-1-campfires-permitted-throughout-the-kamloops-fire-centre-2/

08/31/2026

Telus Services Restoration Update

Update as of 9:30am August 31, 2026

The following update below has been shared by TELUS about their work restoring services in our community:

TELUS is now in the final stages of restoring services following the recent fire.

The mainline cable connection has now been completed, and TELUS crews will be working over the coming days to ensure connections to individual properties and residences are restored.

As services are brought back online, TELUS may need to attend individual properties to confirm connections, test equipment, and address equipment that may have been affected by the fire. Some members may experience temporary service interruptions or equipment issues during this process.

TELUS wants to make sure community members have a direct point of contact if their services have not been restored properly or if they have questions or concerns.

If you believe there is an issue with your TELUS service, or something does not appear to be working as expected, please contact:

Phil Hickling
TELUS – Service Technician
778-212-5476

Thank you for your patience and understanding as crews work to complete the remaining restoration work and get services fully back online.

**TELUS crews are currently on site in the community. If any members are interested in setting up new TELUS services, this is also a good opportunity to connect with the team while they are in the area and actively working on service restoration**

08/28/2026

Community Update: Bradley Creek Wildfire Evacuation Order Partial Rescind

Effective 1700 Hours, August 28th, 2026, the Evacuation Order for an area of the Bradley Creek Wildland Fire area has been Rescinded. (Please see map below).

View the Evacuation Order Rescind on our website:
https://www.okib.ca/news/community-update-bradley-creek-wildfire-evacuation-order-partial-rescind-4/

The Evacuation Order Rescind is in effect for the following areas in green on the attached map
All Addresses and properties in green on the OKIB IR 1 reserve:

· 11585 Westside Road
· 11586 Westside Road
· 11587 Westside Road
· 11735 Westside Road
· 18 Ta Ta Tlux Road
· 11 Ta Ta Tlux Road
· 9 Ta Ta Tlux Road
· 5 Ta Ta Tlux Road
· 11971 Westside Road
· 12193 Westside Road
· 12229 Westside Road
· 12223 Westside Road
· 12805 Westside Road
· House at 11479 Westside Road
· 11889 McMillan Drive

Returning home after a wildfire

Residents returning to wildfire-affected areas should use caution. Even if your home was not directly damaged, smoke, soot, ash and other hazards may remain.

Check your property before entering. Watch for structural damage, damaged trees, fallen power lines, sharp debris and other hazards. Do not enter a structure that appears unstable.

Protect yourself during cleanup. Wear appropriate footwear, gloves and protective clothing. An N95 mask can help reduce exposure to ash, soot and fine particles.

Replace your furnace and/or air conditioner filter. If outdoor air quality allows, open windows and use a fan to help circulate fresh air. Professional cleaning of ducts and air-conditioning systems may also be appropriate.

Check food before using it. Refrigerated or frozen food may no longer be safe following an extended power outage. When in doubt, throw it out.

Be careful with ash and soot. Wet wiping or mopping is preferred over dry dusting, and only vacuums equipped with a HEPA filter should be used for ash.

For information about safely returning to your home after a wildfire, please visit OKIB.ca to review the First Nations Health Authority Returning Home After a Wildfire information package.

https://fnha.ca/wp-content/uploads/migrated/Documents/FNHA-Returning-to-Your-Home-After-Wildfires.pdf

We also ask everyone returning to be mindful of their neighbours.

Please respect private property, avoid entering or photographing damaged properties that are not your own, and give affected families the privacy and space they need.

Further updates will continue to be shared through OKIB’s official communication channels.

08/28/2026

Community Update: Canada Post is Offering One Year of Free Mail Forwarding Service For Fire Impacted Households

Update as of 3:00pm, August 28th, 2026

Way’ Members,

Canada Post will be offering a complimentary one year mail forwarding service for households impacted by the Bradley Creek wildfire.

Eligible customers will need to confirm their postal code in person to get access to the mail forwarding service.

Deadline to register is September 14th, 2026.

In addition to mail forwarding, Canda Post is also holding parcels and mail for the fire affected area at the Canada Post mail depot in Vernon at 3101 32nd Ave.

08/26/2026

Community Update: New Fire Start on St Anne’s Hill now contained

Update as of 4:45pm August 26th, 2026

Way Members,

The fire has now been contained. Crews will remain on scene to monitor the situation as needed.

-------------------------------

Update as of 2:45pm August 26th, 2026

Way’ Members,

Please be advised that there is a new fire start on St Anne’s Hill, along Highway 97. The OKIB EOC is monitoring the situation, and the OKIB Fire Department, Spallumcheen Fire Department and BC Wildfire Service are responding. Please stay clear of the area and give crews space to work.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

08/25/2026

Calling all Syilx Nation members, staff, and members of the public to join in prayers for the tmxʷulaxʷ (land), the tmixʷ (all living things), the people, those who have been evacuated, those who have lost their homes, and all those fighting to protect our territory from the fires.

We invite our Nation and anyone who would like to join in prayer by the water. Gatherings will be held at different locations. Whether you can join us at 12:30 p.m. or not, please take a moment to pause and join us in prayer wherever you are.

Come together with family and community as we hold one another, our lands, and all those affected by the fires in our prayers.

TOMORROW: Come Together to Pray by The Water 🌊

*EDIT: Additional prayers at nməlqytkʷ (Lower Similkameen Indian Band) at the Chopaka Bridge at 12 pm. Contact: Eliza Terbasket, (250) 212 4026

We invite our Nation and anyone who would like to join in prayer by the water. Prayers for the tmxʷulaxʷ (land), the tmixʷ (all living things), the people, those who have been evacuated, those who have lost their homes, and all those fighting to protect our territory from the fires.

Gatherings will be held at different locations. Whether you can join us at 12:30 p.m. or not, please take a moment to pause and join us in prayer wherever you are.

Come together with family and community as we hold one another, our lands, and all those affected by the fires in our prayers 🩵

08/24/2026

Community Update: Bradley Creek Wildfire Evacuation Alert Rescind

Effective 1500 Hours, August 24th, 2026, the Evacuation Alert for an area of the Bradley Creek Wildland Fire area has been Rescinded. (Please see map below).

The Evacuation Alert Rescind is in effect for the following areas in green on the attached map

All properties on:

· All of Coyote Crossing
· 9511 and 9551 Hwy 97
· 18 and 36 Tonasket Road
· 12594 Westside Road
· 20 Eagle Rock Road
· 2585 and 2591 Hwy 97
· 715 Irish Creek Road North
· 879 Irish Creek Road North


We also ask everyone returning to be mindful of their neighbours.

Please respect private property, avoid entering or photographing damaged properties that are not your own, and give affected families the privacy and space they need.

Further updates will continue to be shared through OKIB’s official communication channels.

https://www.okib.ca/news/community-update-bradley-creek-wildfire-evacuation-alert-rescind/

08/23/2026

Community Update: Information on TELUS Restoration and Utility Billing Relief

Update as of 12:00pm, Aug. 23, 2026

➡️Please note: This is not an Okanagan Indian Band announcement. The following information is being shared by OKIB on behalf of TELUS to provide members with an update on the restoration of telecommunications services following the recent wildfires.

TELUS has provided an update on efforts to restore internet and landline phone services on IR 1 following damage caused by the wildfire.

Crews are working with BC Hydro and other partners to replace damaged infrastructure along Westside Road and restore telecommunications services. TELUS expects this work to continue for up to one month, although efforts are underway to complete the work sooner.

➡️Read the full TELUS update: https://www.okib.ca/news/restoration-of-telus-service-on-ir-1/

FortisBC and BC Hydro have also provided information about bill credits and billing relief available to customers affected by wildfire evacuation orders.

➡️Read the FortisBC billing relief update:
https://www.okib.ca/news/fortisbc-offers-bill-credits-and-billing-relief-for-wildfire-affected-communities/

➡️Read the BC Hydro bill credits and payment assistance update:
https://www.okib.ca/news/bc-hydro-bill-help-for-british-columbians-who-are-evacuated/