Author
Author: Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
‘s Latest Articles
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Man who defrauded Indigenous youth while posing as a social worker sentenced to 5 years in prison
Saunders misappropriated $460,000 from youth under his ‘care,’ using the funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, rules judge
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‘I came out because I saw you come out’: Two-Spirit artist builds safer spaces for queer youth
Since coming out as Two-Spirit in 2019, Madeline Terbasket has been committed to making their community safer for queer people
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‘Literal colonization tactics’: Kamloopa Powwow Society apologizes for identity rules
Blood quantum and ‘correct gender’ regulations caused a massive online backlash against the event
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‘It’s living, it’s breathing’: Outdoor tours of syilx cultural garden in high demand
Guides at k’nmaĺka? sənqâĺtən share plant and medicine teachings, including the uses of sp’itł’m and smu’xa?an
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Decolonizing and reclaiming culture through syilx hand poke tattooing
For syilx hand poke tattoo practitioner Sheldon Pierre Louis, markings are a sign of reclamation and activism.
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Community condemns Robert Saunders outside of ‘Kelowna’ courthouse
The fraudulent ‘social worker’ misappropriated funds from youth under his care, many of whom were Indigenous
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Chief of vibrant Westbank First Nation announces immediate resignation
In the aftermath of an unauthorized land sale, Chief y̓lmixʷm Christopher Derickson said he’s now seeing further evidence of corruption.
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Indigenous Peoples Day Events within syilx homelands
The syilx Nation is hosting a number of celebrations in honour of sqilx’w day
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South Okanagan Similkameen Pride Society kicks off month-long celebrations
The crowd at the Dream Cafe was treated to a night of poetry, mixes of Fusion and Raqs Sharqi dancing, and drag acts full of outlandish song and dance.
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Aaron Hemens shares his 2022 intentions as Okanagan Storyteller
‘To tell the community’s story, I need to be part of the community, I need to be there.’









