Other Information

Contact Us

How to Contact Us

If you have general questions about our services please contact us toll free at 1-877-755-2266 or email aboriginal@okanagan.bc.ca.

Alternatively feel free to contact a Aboriginal Transitions Planner or the Aboriginal Services Coordinator.

Aboriginal Campus Centres

Kelowna Campus

  • Room S 124
  • Student Service Building
  • General Office Number 250-762-5445 extn 4682
  • Aboriginal Transition Planner: Jewell Gillies 250-762-5445 ext 4498

Salmon Arm Campus

  • Room B 184
  • The Gathering Place
  • General Office Number: 250-832-2126
  • Aboriginal Transition Planner: Caroline Chartier 250-832-2126 ext 8275

Penticton Campus

  • Room PE A-17
  • Sunoka Building
  • General Office Number 250 492-4305 Ext: 3261
  • Aboriginal Transitions Planner: Marcy Trotter 250-492-4305 Ext: 3280

Vernon Campus

  • Room B 311
  • Block B - Cafeteria
  • General Office Number: 250-545-7291
  • Education Advisor, Aboriginal Transition Planner: Marilyn Alexis 250-545-7291 ext. 2284
Release Information to Others

Parents should note that Okanagan College cannot release student information to any third party (including immediate family, parents, etc.) without prior written consent.

To Release Information Complete the Following Steps

  1. Go to the students MyOkanagan account (Unsure how to log in? Go to the logging into moodle page)
  2. Scroll to the Consent to Release Information box
    3. Consent to Release Information
  3. Complete the form and click the "Save" button

Upon completing the Consent to Release Information form, the person registered may now have access to the allowed information.

Services Provided

Indigenous Garden Pages

Okanagan College Kelowna Campus' Indigenous Garden: na’ʔk’ʷulamən Garden Page

Okanagan College Vernon Campus' Indigenous Garden: Vernon Gardens

Awards, Bursaries and Scholarships

Go to Financial Aid and Awards for more information regarding scholarships, bursaries and awards.

Academy of Indigenous Scholars

The Okanagan College Academy of Indigenous Scholars is a culturally relevant and student experience program. Indigenous students wanting to take greater control of their success and become more engaged with the College are welcome to apply.

Once in the Academy, students work with an Aboriginal Services staff member to create an achievement plan based on their individual needs. Students will work through their plan for the duration of the year.

For more information, visit the Academy of Indigenous Scholars page.

Declaring your Ancestry

Reasons to Declare your Ancestry

We encourage all current Aboriginal students to self-identify their ancestry. Voluntarily disclosing your Aboriginal ancestry is important for several reasons:

  • It allows us to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all our Aboriginal learners and Aboriginal communities
  • It gives us the ability to make students aware of the support services that we offer
  • It helps us improve existing services or develop new support services
  • It allows us to keep track of the enrollment, retention and completion rates of Aboriginal learners (informs our support service effectiveness)
  • It allows us to reach out and inform you of events, workshops, Elder visits and other cultural events.
You do not need to self-declare your ancestry here if you have already done so on your application for admission.

If you have questions about Aboriginal rights, benefits, treaties, land claims, or any other topics, try the Indigenous and Northern Affairs website.

How to Declare your Ancestry

Aboriginal is defined as anyone who identifies themselves as First Nation (status and non-status), Métis and/or Inuit. Follow these simple instructions, and note that this is strictly voluntary.

  • Log in to MyOkanagan
  • Click the Connect tab on the left side menu
  • Go to the box to the right of the screen, "Update Your Info"
  • Self-identify
my okanagan self identify instructions update your info on my okanagan

Information on Indigenous Literature

Periodicals Available
Aboriginal Voices Canadian Journal of Native Education
Études Inuit Studies First Nations Free Press
Native Youth News Saskatchewan Indian
Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Journal The Northerner
Books, Articles and Indigenous Resources

The Bibliography of Native North Americans indexes over 100,000 items, including books, newspapers, magazine and journal articles, and government documents of the United States and Canada. Some items are full text.

If articles are not full text they can be request through the Interlibrary Loan Form available on the library web page or ask a librarian for help.

This page contains valuable information related to topics that focus on Indigenous peoples, history, education, health, reconciliation and more. For more information go to the Okanagan College Library.

This information was generously compiled by Taryn Schmid (Reference Librarian, Kalamalka and Salmon Arm Campuses). If you have any questions about library services or these databases please feel free to contact Taryn at tschmid@okanagan.bc.ca.