Community Stories
Okanagan

Native people in the Okanagan Valley have raised horses and cattle for many generations. Stories from time immemorial tell of the horse and its special relationship with the Okanagan people. This relationship expanded as people provided horses for, and found employment with, the fur trading companies early in the nineteenth century and, later, as cowboy and ranch lifestyles developed. The horse-oriented lifestyle meant a natural affinity to the sport of rodeo, and Okanagan communities produced many rodeo champions.

Alex Chillihitzia, a well-known horseman and cattle rancher from the Upper Nicola Band, Spaxomn. Alex is pictured here at Hedley circa 1930.

Joe Pierre, of the Penticton Indian Band, calf-roping on Bird, a registered quarter horse, at the Keremeos Elks Rodeo, May 16, 1985	Pierre Joe of Vernon, British Columbia, c. 1930. He raised harness, ranch and race horses.

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Fort Berthold | Okanagan | Wood Mountain

Introduction | Early Ranching | Ranching Life | Contemporary Ranching Life | Community Stories | Transition to Rodeo

SACRED BEINGS | RANCHING | ENTERTAINMENT | RODEO | ARTS AND INDUSTRIES