Osoyoos Indian Band Member Yvonne Weinert, standing, places her ballot in the ballot box during a referendum held on Sept. 16 while Doris Chapman watches. Band members voted in favour of leasing two parcels land owned by band elders Jane Stelkia and Modesta Betterton to the developers of a proposed housing project. Photo by Laurena Weninger - Click on picture for larger image
OSOYOOS TIMES-September 22, 2010
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
The majority of Osoyoos Indian Band members who participated in a Sept. 16 referendum concerning a proposed housing project voted in favour of granting a Chilliwack-based developer two 99-year leases for properties on the reserve.
The Van Maren Group of Companies plans to build roughly 300 detached homes on 28 hectares of land owned by Jane Stelkia and Modesta Betterton off of Inkameep Road at the head of Osoyoos Lake.
Due to federal regulations and because the leases would be for 99 years, 50 per cent of band members had to OK the long-term leases before the development project could get underway.
The referendum question put before the band was “Are you in favour of, and do you assent to, the lease of Lot 39-1-1, in Osoyoos Indian Reserve No. 1 and Lot 39-2, in Osoyoos Indian Reserve No. 1 for a term of 99 years for the purposes provided in the Information Document dated July, 2010?”
Out of 301 eligible voters, 168 band members cast a ballot at the band’s office on Sept. 16, with 115 voting yes and 50 voting no.
Three ballots were spoiled.
Eric Van Maren of the Van Maren Group of Companies said he was “delighted” when he received news of the results just after the polls closed on the evening of Sept. 16.
The next step for the project, he said, is for detailed designs of the development to be created.
He hopes to sign leases for the land where the project would be built before the end of October.
Van Maren won’t be signing the leases with Stelkia and Betterton, however, as they will surrender the lands in question to the federal government due to regulations in the federal Indian Act.
The developers will sign the leases with the Crown although Stelkia and Betterton will be financially compensated.
Chris Scott, the band’s chief operating officer, said Indian and Northern Affairs Canada must now give its blessing to the final form of the lease and approve engineering plans for the development.
He said he was pleased with the results of the referendum.
“It demonstrates confidence of the Band membership (majority who voted) in supporting quality developments on OIB lands,” Scott said in an email. “Our region will benefit from the expanded economy and multiplier effect of a $ 100-million dollar project.”
He added that the band’s actions concerning this development will provide “greater confidence for non-natives to invest on native lands.”
Scott also said that although the lease would be between the developers and the Crown, the lands would return to band members at the end of the term of the lease.
He said while the lease is in effect, however, the owners of the homes built on the land will have legal title registered in the Indian Land Registry for their parcel and would be able to sell their homes.
Along with the roughly 300 recreational homes, the developers plan to build 150 boat slips in a facility just offshore from the development area.
The homes would cost between $300,000 and $400,000.
The developers have projected that, among other economic benefits such as job creation, the project will put between $120 and $150 million in tax revenues into the hands of the band over 99 years.
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie was not available for comment.
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