By Don Urquhart, Times-Chronicle
The Osoyoos Indian Band’s Brenda Baptiste is one of thirty-one people invested into the Order of British Columbia during a ceremony at Government House in Victoria on Thursday, March 3.
Baptiste’s inclusion in the province’s highest honour along with 15 others for 2021 was announced last August but because the pandemic disrupted the ceremonies from previous years the ceremony saw a total of 31 individuals awarded.
In an interview with the Times-Chronicle following the announcement last August, Baptiste said: “I think it’s an incredible recognition of the number of people that actually work on Indigenous initiatives, especially economic development and tourism and culture.”
Baptiste said the award has been an honour but also humbling for her, who sees the achievements of Indigenous cultural tourism as a team effort.
“It certainly is a reflection of how far this province has come in terms of reconciliation and the commitment to UNDRIP. I’m really honoured to be a part of this group, and I want to share that honour with the people that I’ve worked with throughout my career that have worked so hard to make this awareness of the importance of the Indigenous voices.”
Janet Austin, lieutenant governor of B.C. and chancellor of the Order of British Columbia said at the investiture ceremony: “I am honoured to share congratulations to all being invested into the order.
“Your contributions to your communities and to the province are remarkable, and this recognition of your service to British Columbians is richly deserved. I look forward to the investiture and the opportunity to celebrate all new members.”
Brenda Baptiste
Nearly 20 years ago, in 2003, Baptiste was hired by the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) to coordinate the planning and operations for the $10 million first stage Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre that would celebrate the syilx culture and life in the desert context.
The OIB decided to open the centre to the public to assist with financial operations and to celebrate indigenous syilx culture.
But Baptiste’s work didn’t stop there, she also worked in collaboration with a team to develop a blueprint for the growth of indigenous cultural tourism in B.C., the first of its kind in Canada.
The strategy was a catalyst for incredible growth in indigenous cultural tourism, averaging 20 per cent growth each year producing revenues of more than $1.2 billion and 7,400 full time jobs across the province.
She was also elected to the board of Indigenous Tourism BC (then Aboriginal Tourism BC), which has now grown to 500 members.
Baptiste was also the director of the Aboriginal Business Showcase for the Four Host Nations during the 2010 Olympics. That initiative showcased over 500 Indigenous cultural businesses and artisans from across Canada.
She was also involved in a holistic cultural program helping Indigenous inmates at the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver, which created cultural events to build pride as Indigenous individuals. This included cultural spiral counselling, singing and drumming, and sylix language and crafts.
The award-winning Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre is now in a phase two expansion, with the involvement of Baptiste.
“Congratulations to the newest members of the Order of B.C. Thank you for your passion, your hard work and the gifts you share with others,” said B.C. Premier John Horgan. “Your achievements and accomplishments create a better B.C. for us all.”
The August 2021 interview with Brenda Baptiste titled, ‘The transformative nature of Indigenous tourism’ can be read here. The March 3 investiture ceremony can be viewed on YouTube here.
A total of 257 British Columbians were nominated for the Order in 2021 and since its inception, 475 British Columbians have been appointed to the Order of B.C from all regions of the province.
Recipients invested on March 3 include:
- Chief Joe Alphonse of the Tsilhqot’in Nation
- The late Shashi Assanand of Richmond
- Joe Average, MGC, of Vancouver
- Brenda Baptiste of Osoyoos
- Ryan Beedie of West Vancouver
- Frances Belzberg, OC, of Vancouver
- Dr. Gary Birch, OC, of Vancouver
- Dr. Debra Braithwaite of Victoria
- Michael Bublé of Burnaby
- Shirley Chan of Vancouver
- Neil Cook, MGC, of Cranbrook
- Jane Coop, CM, of Vancouver
- Ajay Dilawri of Vancouver
- Debra Doucette of North Vancouver
- Paul George of Gibsons
- Rusty Goepel, of Vancouver
- Dr. Bonnie Henry of Victoria
- John Horton of Delta
- Dr. Mel Krajden of Vancouver
- Carol A. Lee of Vancouver
- Dr. James McEwen, OC, of Vancouver
- Brian Minter, CM, of Chilliwack
- Dr. Janet Nadine Mort of Central Saanich
- Professor Andrew Petter, CM, QC of Victoria
- Tracy Porteous of Victoria
- Dr. Dolph Schluter of Vancouver
- Arran and Ratana Stephens of Vancouver
- Marvin Storrow, QC, of Vancouver
- Carole Taylor, OC, of Vancouver
- Ruth Williams of Kamloops
