Okanagan Nation seeks donations to support Colville Tribes amid wildfires

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) has put out a call for donations amidst the Cold Springs fire that is significantly impacting the Colville Reservation in Washington state.

According to the InciWeb the Incident Information System the Colville Agency Bureau of Indian Affairs unit shows the fire has been contained to 50 per cent from 188,852 Acres.

In response to the fires and in support of the affected families, ONA is asking for people to contribute to a donation drive. They will be accepting donations from Sept. 14 – 16, and are looking for monetary donations, nonperishable food items, bottled drinks, new sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, pillow cases, personal hygiene items, paper products, batteries, lanterns, general cleaning supplies, and ice coolers. 

According to a poster shared on ONA’s Facebook page,  the location drop off dates/time are as follows:

Westbank: September 14-16, 2020
8:30am to 4:30pm Wednesday till 6pm
ONA Office 101 3535 Old Okanagan Highway

Oliver: September 15, 2020
12:30pm to 3:30pm 
OIB Band office parking lot 

Keremeos: September 15, 2020
3:30pm to 5:30pm
LSIB Band office parking lot

Vernon: September 15, 2020
5:00pm to 7:00pm
Komasket Ball Field

Penticton: September 16, 2020
5:00pm to 7:00pm
ONA Wade office  #101- 697 Wade Ave

ONA asks that social distancing precautions be maintained and they explain there are two ways to donate: “Stay in your vehicle and open your trunk or vehicle back seat door and staff will collect your donations, or bring your donations to the table and keep 6ft distance with staff,” the poster says.