Story by: Jason Louie, Chief of the Lower Kootenay Band

Since 2011, the Lower Kootenay Band has strived for excellence both as a community and a First Nation. The road to the present has not been easy but we endure the difficult times and continue to operate as a team as best we can.

Some community members embrace the direction we are heading while others despise it. Regardless, there is a job that needs to be done and, as I am granted a new day, there is no alternative but to soldier on and do our best.

The following is a timeline of what we achieved as a team, not what I achieved. There are times when I must lead and there are times I must follow. The mark of a true leader is the ability to adapt to multiple roles.

2011

- Chief Jason Louie and council are elected.

- March: after more than a decade, the Lower Kootenay Band begins to host bimonthly community meetings to update members about administration programs and operations.

- Much-needed housing renovations begin, employing community members to revitalize the housing conditions.

- Chief and council retreat to strategize where we want to lead our community and begin personal healing to become more effective leaders.

- Renovations begin on the LKB administration building.

- Changes are implemented to the Social Assistance Program. Recipients are required to complete volunteer hours and a declaration of actively seeking employment.

- Economic development grants totalling $11,000 are awarded to LKB members to begin their own business ventures.

- Four LKB members graduate from high school.

- Harvest Share Program begins at Lower Kootenay.

- Job Search Program begins.

- Cooking club for youth begins.

- Knitting group is started.

2012

- Staff, chief and council retreat.

- LKB grief workshop. With the many losses we face we must learn how to grieve and cope.

- LKB lateral violence workshop. Many times we as First Nations can be our own worst enemies. Dealing with lateral violence is an ongoing process that requires commitment to change our personal behaviours.

- Fetal alcohol syndrome workshop. Education was provided to both men and women about the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

- Budgeting workshop. Community members received information and strategies on how to effectively manage their incomes.

- Ktunaxa language classes begin.

- Economic development grants totalling $23,000 awarded to LKB members to begin their small businesses.

- LKB initiates the Work Force Crew. This group of men and women became trained in carpentry to renovate homes and buildings in the community. By training our members we saved more than $10,000.

- LKB hosts the Ktunaxa Nation annual general assembly.

- LKB hosts the KootenaiFalls ceremony.

- Annual community cleanup.

- LKB hires a registered nurse.

- LKB youth construct a sturgeon-nosed canoe and present it to the CrestonValleyHospital. The canoe is a symbol of life and represents an ongoing commitment to improving our working relationship.

- LKB, RCMP, Regional District of Central Kootenay and Town of Creston continue to work together effectively but, most importantly, in a respectful manner.

- LKB challenges the town to donate non-perishable food to the local food bank. LKB wins the challenge, bringing in two truck loads of food.

- Chief Louie receives the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

2013

- LKB council inauguration ceremony for Mary Basil and Robin Louie.

- Cross-cultural education workshop for the Canada Border Services Agency.

- LKB Winter Survival Day.

- LKB hosts language/culture preservation symposium for the Ktunaxa Nation.

- Chief Louie receives the B.C. Community Achievement Award at Government House in Victoria.

- LKB hosts a career fair.

- LKB hosts an open house.

- LKB chief and council retreat.

- Ongoing housing renovations. Some LKB members finish paying their mortgages and now own their homes.

- The 21st annual Yaqan Nukiy Pow Wow.

- LKB participates in National Addictions Awareness Week.

- LKB participates in Relay for Life. Chief Louie is arrested by Relay for Life “police” and bailed out for $200 in five minutes.

- LKB receives part-time nurse practitioner.

- LKB hosts salmon feast at Canada Day celebration.

- LKB begins dialogue with bio-coal company Diacarbon Energy.

- LKB begins dialogue with Columbia Power.

- LKB continues to work with Fortis BC.

- After decades of an inadequate water system, LKB begins a $1.5-million water project, bringing a state-of-the-art system to the reserve.

- LKB continues to improve its working relationship with Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Child and Family Services.

- Band-operated elementary school begins a partnership with the Bountiful community. Students from Bountiful attend YaqanNukiySchool, as do students from the CrestonValley. There are no ethnic categories, just children gaining an education.

As you can see, both the leadership and staff have been working tirelessly for their community. As I mentioned, these are not my accomplishments but the team’s.

The LKB team has been extremely supportive of me and I thank them for their dedication and even friendship.

Figuratively speaking, if we cannot run we will walk and if we cannot walk we will crawl, but never will a fallen team/community member be left behind.

Taxa.

(Jason Louie can be reached by phone at 428-4428, ext. 235, e-mail at mjasonlouie@gmail.com or on the Web at www.lowerkootenay.com.)