E-Mail 250-769-4999 Directory
Contact: Membership Services | T 250 768 0227 | Email
General programs and services specific to Westbank First Nation Members are listed below. For more information, please contact the Membership Services department. For programs related to education, youth, early years, health and wellness, and recreation, refer to the left-side menu.
Contact: Membership Services | T 250 768 0227 | E-mail
Each season, Westbank First Nation receives a limited number of Big White season and day passes for Members, who can submit their name for a chance to receive a pass. An application form must be submitted to Membership Services for a chance to receive a season pass. Please note that in order to receive an pass, you must be able to provide proof that you have been skiing at least 10 times.
Season's Pass Application
Waiver
Contact: Intergovernmental Affairs | T 250-769-4999
Policy 2020-02 Cabin Construction on Crown Land has been developed to outline the requirements associated with constructing, using, and monitoring Cabins on Crown Land to ensure they are constructed and used in a responsible and sustainable manner. Constructing Cabins on Crown Land enables WFN Members to use those lands for traditional practices and activities, while acting as responsible stewards of the tmxʷulaʔxʷ/land. If you have any questions about the policy or the process for Members, please contact Intergovernmental Affairs by phone at 250-769-2440. Alternatively, you can email Jeniffer Bellingham at jbellingham@wfn.ca, or Raf De Guevara at rdeguevara@wfn.ca.
Cabin Construction Policy
Members may enter regular draws to win tickets to Rockets hockey games, concerts, and other events at Prospera Place. There are 10 tickets available for each game, concert, and event. To enter to draw, contact Membership Services. Please familiarize yourself with the Event Schedules, Guidelines and Code of Conduct linked below.
Concert and event schedule
Rockets game schedule
The Educational Cultural Exchange Allowance funding is for Member students wanting to participate in international and domestic educational cultural exchange programs.
Each Member is entitled to 50% of the program cost with a lifetime maximum of $1,500. Program costs must be a minimum of $400 to qualify for an allowance.
Application | Educational Cultural Exchange Policy
Members can sign an Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement to have money issued by WFN deposited directly into their account rather than receiving a cheque.
Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement
Contact: Utilities & Public Works | T 250 707 3332 | E-mail
This benefit is effective January 1, 2020 and will run until December 31, 2020. It will be administered by the WFN Manager of Utilities & Public Works or delegate. An exemption from payment of residential sewer service user fees prescribed by the WFN Sanitary Sewer Systems Law 2005-18 will be granted to those WFN Members who are connected to the WFN Sewer Collection system and who meet the eligibility criteria.
Emergency Sewer Relief Benefit
We provide assistance to Members when a family experiences the loss of a loved one. The WFN funeral assistance policy has been adopted to provide assistance to the family in these most difficult times.
Financial assistance for the surviving family of a deceased WFN Member by providing a financial subsidy to help cover funeral costs up to a maximum benefit payout of $3,500.
Site Preparation. Westbank First Nation will bear the costs of site preparation for individuals interred on WFN Lands. Site preparation costs for other sites will be the responsibility of the deceased’s family or representative and be included in the benefit coverage amount
Additional in-kind services pertaining to funerals can be provided to the family of the deceased at no cost to the family. These additional services MUST be requested by the family by completing the WFN Member Funeral Benefit Application form, available from the Membership Services department.
Additional in-kind service may include: Pine box (outer casing), obtaining pitch post, preparation of pitch post, delivery of firewood, and WFN facility rental fee.
This program enables Members interested in riding and horsemanship to obtain lessons. Contact Membership Services for more information.
Contact: Membership Services | T 250 768 0227
Westbank First Nation is committed to creating a healthy, strong and vibrant community by providing resources that promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The Leisure and Wellness Funding policy outlines the financial support that is available to WFN Members for the pursuit of leisure and wellness activities, along with the criteria, funding limits, and eligibility requirements. This new policy replaces the former Personal Development Fund.
Leisure and Wellness Funding Policy
Leisure and Wellness Funding Application Form
This program was put in place to provide each newborn Member with a deposit to a trust account that can be accessed when they are 19.
As a client of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), you automatically get a Pacific Blue Cross Member Profile as part of our Health Benefits Program. Your profile is unique to you. Your Status Number doubles as your Pacific Blue Cross Member ID number.
Follow the tutorials below to set up your Member Profile and to download the App.
Pacific Blue Cross Member Profile Tutorial
Pacific Blue Cross App
For more information visit the benefits section of the FNHA Website.
Contact: Registry Officer | T 250 768 0227 | E-mail
Registry services are provided within the guidelines of the Indian Act for Entitlement & Registration, Federal Law and Policy, and the WFN Constitution.
Services provided: Status card issue and renewal; birth registrations; name changes, entitlement registration, death, divorce and marriage amendments; upkeep of the membership roll and database; transfers; and serving as an Electoral Officer for Membership voting. Appointments are recommended.
When: Monday to Friday | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact: Tanya Kang | T 250 768 0227
After more than a decade of fighting in court, a proposed settlement agreement for Residential School Day Scholars has been reached. Now the question becomes: what comes next?
Day Scholars / Survivor Class Members are people who attended federal residentials schools as students during the day only but did not sleep there overnight. The Descendant Class Members are the children of Day Scholars.
Every eligible Day Scholar Survivor will be able to make a claim for a $10,000 payment to compensate them for loss of their Indigenous language and culture. For eligible Day Scholars who were alive as of May 30, 2005, but have died since, one of their heirs can make a claim on behalf of their estate. Canada will also pay $50 million to establish the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund for the benefit of the Day Scholars and their Descendants. Those eligible for compensation under the settlement must have attended (or be the child of someone who attended) one of the schools on the “Schedule E” list of residential schools that could have had Day Scholars. This information can be found at JusticeForDayScholars.com.
Before compensation can begin, the Court needs to approve the settlement. The settlement will be approved if a judge determines that it is fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. If approved, the settlement will ensure compensation for Day Scholars and their children in their lifetimes. This decision will come after the settlement approval hearing, which begins on September 7, 2021. Day Scholar Survivor and Descendant Class Members have the right to tell the judge what they think about the settlement, either before or during the settlement approval hearing. There are two ways to do this:
This is completely optional and participating in the settlement approval process will not impact one’s ability to receive compensation. The judge will take all submissions into consideration before deciding whether or not to approve the settlement.
The syilx Heritage and Culture Development Funding Policy was created so that Members can access funding to attend educational syilx cultural events on a first come-first serve basis.
WFN Member adults may apply for a maximum of $500 per fiscal year. WFN Member minors may apply for a maximum of $250 per fiscal year.
To be eligible for funding, Members must:
Tier athlete funding is intended to help make participation in sports activities more affordable for Members who wish to improve their health and wellness, obtain athletic scholarships, or pursue athletic careers through such activities.
The purpose of the Tier Athlete Funding policy is to outline the financial support that is available to Westbank First Nation Members for participation in sports activities, along with the criteria, funding limits, and eligibility requirements.
This policy is a minor revision to Policy 2015-25 Recreation Funding.
Deadline: March 31 each year