By Sophie Carrigan Gray
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The mayor of Oliver, town council members, members of the Osoyoos Indian Band and residents gathered at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the official opening of Bridge Park on Fairview Road today.
The ceremony saw speeches by Mayor Martin Johansen, OIB Chief Clarence Louie and Herb Alex from the kł cp̓əlk̓ stim̓ fish hatchery. The new park features a metal statue of the Salmon Chief created by Virgil “Smoker” Marchand. The salmon is a traditional symbol in the Syilx/Okanagan culture.
Alex spoke to the symbolic significance of the Salmon Chief to the Syilx/Okanagan culture and the history behind the role.
“The salmon chief wasn’t just local to here, he took care of the entire Okanagan River as well as the Upper Columbia,” said Alex. “The last salmon chief that we had was named Martin Louie, whose native name is Sen Pok Chin, and that is what the Oliver elementary school is named after, the last Salmon Chief that we had.”
Sheri Stelkia and Roger Hall, elders and traditional language speakers from the Osoyoos Indian Band, spoke a blessing in N̓syilxčn̓. Drummers performed a song as well to welcome the joint effort in celebrating and recognizing the connection between the Osoyoos Indian Band and the land and water in Oliver.
