Lower Similkameen Indian Band
Okanagan Training & Development Council
Lower Similkameen and Area Annual Report 2023 – 2024
Contact Employment Training Coordinator
Another fiscal year has come upon us, I would like to thank you for allowing us to live, work, and play in the Smelqmix Territory. We have had many success stories in the last year and will highlight some for you. This year, 15 people took advantage of the Client Support program, which is short-term training such as OFA level 1, work gear, travel, etc.
Ryland Davoren's indigenous background hails from Wet’suwet’en Territory near Smithers, BC. Ryland has completed his apprenticeship as a Residential Construction Electrician. He found that his interest is in the Commercial sector, so he is now in the Industrial sector. He hopes he will one day open his own company using the skills and experience he acquired through apprenticeship training. I am confident that he will make his dream a reality. You are a success story, Ryland.
This young lady is a true success story. Kalika started her healing journey in January ’23. She went and completed her treatment program and came home. She is a single mom to 4-year-old Kali. Growing up on a ranch and doing outdoor work, she decided she needed a change. She started as an on-call receptionist but was asked to come in every day to the Health Department. She loves her job as a receptionist. She took the RISC training, got her PAL, acquired her license, and bought herself a reliable vehicle. She is working full-time now
The Adult Education Department partnered with Okanagan College to bring the “Fast Track to Office Training” to the community. She took the training, and this picture tells it all. Congratulations Kalika!
Tish Elkink, a single mom to 2 children, who had requested funding to attend the “Fast Track to Office Training” as she will be taking over the business end of her family’s ranching due to the health issues of her parents.
Before this, Tish had been on the threshold of completing her language diploma. I commend her on doing this training for the sake of her family. She knows that in the future, she will complete her language diploma. She can get things done. Right now, she is adding to her skill set and this office training will always be useful in her everyday life.
Good luck Tish in your endeavours in the business side of ranching.
Joseph Raphael is an LSIB member, who is part of the Community Garden project as a wage subsidy program for 6 months, and part of the program is that the individual should be hired by the applicant. Before working on the Community Garden project, Joseph was working seasonal jobs. This project taught him many skills such as constructing two pump houses, cultivating the soil, and planting crops. Another skill that Joseph learned is how to operate farm machinery and maintenance of the machinery.
On a personal level, Joseph will be going to treatment as part of the healing process and his job will be there when he completes his journey. What an accomplishment Joseph. Keep moving forward positively!
Read our entire annual report in the: 
LSIB Annual Report 2023-24