Okanagan College Kelowna campus adopts Indigenous names

The new student housing building at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus has been given First Nation names.

Westbank First Nation Elders, Pamela and Grouse Barnes, provided two Syilx Okanagan names for the new building at a special ceremony Friday, Dec. 6.

The building will be called citxʷ ki snmymyaʔtn, which translates to home for school, while the common area was named snullustn, meaning a place to gather. The pronunciations can be heard here.

“This ceremony is a powerful reminder of our ongoing responsibility to Truth and Reconciliation,” OC President, Neil Fassina, said.

“By naming this student housing building with the Syilx name we are taking meaningful steps toward healing and strengthening our connection to the Indigenous peoples whose lands we are on. This building is more than a structure — it’s a place where students will find a home away from home, where they will grow, learn, and contribute to the future of our communities.”

The new housing building, which opened in September of 2024, has 216 new spaces for students to live, adding on to the existing 114 rooms at Skaha Place.

Common areas are located on each floor and throughout the buildings that students can use to connect, study and socialize.

“This naming ceremony marks a profound step in deepening the relationship between Okanagan College and Westbank First Nation,” Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby, said.

“This building represents more than just a place for students to live; it embodies a commitment to reconciliation, respect for the Syilx Okanagan Nation, and the creation of spaces where learning and cultural exchange can thrive. I am so proud to see our government invest into our future generations. As a mother of three and MLA for Vernon-Lumby, I was honoured to see Vernon’s first-ever, on-campus housing open, and I had the honour of celebrating the groundbreaking in Salmon Arm as well.”

Syilx names have now been given to the Kelowna and the Vernon campus student housing buildings, with the college noting the Westbank First Nation flag will be raised at the Kelowna campus at a special ceremony in 2025.

“Walking together with Indigenous communities toward Truth and Reconciliation is so important as we work together to improve access to education for Indigenous learners,” Rhea Dupuis, OC’s director of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, said.

“We are committed to honouring the Nations throughout the Okanagan Valley. This ceremony and the raising of Indigenous flags at our campuses remind to honour the traditional territory of the people who were here for time immemorial.”