Employment Opportunities
WFN MembeR Platforms
Contact: Leah Whitehouse | Email| T 250 768 0227
The Okanagan Training and Development Council (OTDC) funds employment and training services at WFN, which are facilitated by an Employment and Training Facilitator.
Support services offered at WFN through the OTDC program include:
This program is funded by the Okanagan Training and Development Council through Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement.
Contact: Life Skills Coordinator | T 250 768 0227 | Email
The Active Measures program is a foundational 10-week program designed to develop, maintain, and sustain pre-employment skills towards the realization of being work ready and the transition from Income Assistance to employment. It builds on the cultural aspects of a canoe journey and provides participants with supports and learning tools for key transitional points related to personal and professional development. Participants will undertake a number of aptitude assessments which include but not limited to: Personality Dimension, Learning Style, Keirsey’s Temperament, Values Inventory. Participants will be provided with the opportunity of doing some career exploring through these various assessments.
Contact:250 768 0227 | Email
Through WFN's local education agreement with SD23, WFN strives to ensure quality, culturally-informed education that supports all students. View the agreement to learn more:
Historical | Condensed | Signed | Oversight
Central Okanagan Public Schools Bi‑Annual Report – December 2, 2024
The Local Education Agreement (LEA) Oversight Team is responsible for monitoring and supporting the implementation of the LEA. The team includes representation from Westbank First Nation (WFN), Central Okanagan Public Schools district staff, the Principal of sənsisyustən House of Learning, and the Principals of Chief Tomat Elementary School, Constable Neil Bruce Middle School, and Mount Boucherie Secondary School—WFN’s designated schools of choice.
In accordance with LEA Section 3.6, the Board’s representative prepares a bi‑annual report outlining progress toward the goals identified in the LEA. The LEA Oversight Team reviews this report prior to its presentation to WFN Council and the Board of Education.
The December 2024 bi‑annual report was presented to and accepted by WFN Chief and Council during Co‑Fly Day on December 2, 2024.
2024 Bi Annual Report
Education Allowance is open to WFN Members and status aboriginals living on WFN Lands who are in grades K-12 and attending school full time from September to June. The allowance subsidizes the cost of school fees and school supplies. Applications are accepted annually from August 1 - September 30. Only complete applications will be accepted.
Pick up an application form at Community Services or download a copy below.
To ensure that WFN students are receiving the assistance and supports required from their respective school, a consent form is required to be signed by the parent or guardian of each child, and by each child over the age of 12 years.
This Consent Form is effective for the period the student is attending school within SD23 unless revoked in writing by the student’s parents, or by the student if she/he is 18 years or older.
The Tutoring Services Funding Policy was created to provide financial services to WFN Members enrolled in a public, private or independent elementary school, middle or secondary school for tutoring services.
Members can source their own tutoring services.
WFN will pay a maximum of $50 per hour for tutoring, for a maximum of 2 hours per week, in Canadian funds.
Central Okanagan Public Schools provides contracted transportation services for:
Designated bus stops will be located on-reserve to support safe and reliable transportation for students. Applications are submitted directly to, and processed by, the Central Okanagan Public Schools Transportation Office.
Parents & guardians will receive updates (including route details and bus stop information) by email using the address provided in the application.
View & Submit Application
If your child no longer requires school bus transportation, or if you have questions about routes, eligibility, or service, contact:
Transportation Services | 250 870 5151 | Transportation@sd23.bc.ca
Westbank First Nation Education has purchased Chromebooks to support WFN Nominal Roll (Status FN) students attending School District 23 schools. The program was funded through First Nation Education Steering Committee to support WFN Nominal Roll students and online learning. The loan program is on a first come first serve basis, and students must complete an equipment loan program. The loan program is for each academic semester and a new form must be completed after each semester.
The equipment is intended to support the student’s success in school, and is not intended for personal use. Parents are responsible for returning the equipment in the condition that it was lent. If the Chromebook is returned damaged, the price of repairing the damage will be charged to the parent.
Opens June 1st and closes August 10th of each year.
FortisBC Energy Inc. has formed a strong a connection with Westbank First Nation and continues to build a mutually beneficial relationship of trust and learning through the establishment of a long-term agreement. In addition, FortisBC Energy Inc. (“FortisBC”) has established a Community Education Awards Program for Westbank First Nation Members who are committed to building a better future for themselves through post-secondary educational studies in disciplines relevant to the academic, trades, technology, and/or the energy sector in occupations pertinent to FortisBC operations.
To recognize this, WFN is pleased to establish:
Preference will be given to students entering and/or planning for post-secondary studies in disciplines related to academic, trades, technology, or energy sector occupations pertinent to FortisBC Operations.
WFN's education team works closely with post-secondary institutions to meet the needs of current and future students. View WFN's MOU with Okanagan College.
Download Post-Secondary Programs & Services Brochure
The intent of this policy is to help increase access for Members to post-secondary education so they may acquire the qualifications and skills needed to pursue a career, become economically self-sufficient, and contribute to the success of WFN self-government. The nc̓x̌ʷiltən (education) of Members is essential to the continued success of the stqáʔtkʷɬniw̓t sqilxʷ (Westbank First Nation) n̓cwixtn (community), because education plays a key role in raising up leaders within the community.
In an effort to support students and transition to online learning, Westbank First Nation has purchased 4 laptops to support our Members attending post-secondary studies. The loan program is on a first come first serve basis and students must complete an equipment loan program. The loan program is for each academic semester and must complete a new form after each semester.
The equipment is intended to support the student’s success in their studies, and is not intended for personal use. Students are responsible for returning the laptop in the condition that it was lent. If the laptop is returned damaged, the price of repairing the damage will be charged to the student.
The laptops (ThinkPad E14) available for borrowing will contain basic software: Microsoft Home & Student 2019.
Workshop Presentation | Policy 2015-20 Bursaries & Scholarships
Application
Westbank First Nation recognizes the importance of education in the pursuit of career goals, and to help acknowledge this, WFN will be honoring students through four bursaries in different programs. All WFN Member students currently enrolled in post-secondary are eligible to apply. Four bursaries will be distributed under one of the four food chiefs. The Legend of “How Food Was Given” contains many principles to building healthy communities. Each one of the Chiefs represent a specific sector in society.
Please indicate which Food Chief(s) you are applying for in your application and letter!
Governance, leadership and the selflessness that accompanies these positions within a community.
Programs may include: Leadership, Political Science, History, Law, Title and Rights, Information Technology, Communications, Journalism, and English, Public Administration.
Economic issues in the life of a community. The modern economy mimics the cyclical nature of the salmon’s life.
Programs may include: Economic Development, Management, Business & Office Administration, Economics, Entrepreneur Studies, Hospitality and Tourism, Taxation, Finance, Employment.
All of the different individual families of the community are represented in the individual shoots, leaves and berries of a Saskatoon bush.
Programs may include: Education, Nursing, Language, Culture, Social Work, Health, Early Childhood Education, Indigenous Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences, Addictions.
Land, as that is where it grows, and it is from the land that it gathers its nutrients, and it is into the land that the bitterroot retreats to wait until the proper time to reappear.
Programs may include: Civil Engineering, Geographical Information Systems, Environmental and Urban Planning, Forestry, Horticulture, Land Management, Sustainability, Parks & Recreation.
Westbank First Nation recognizes that education plays an important role in the pursuit of career goals, personal development, and building capacity within our community. In recognition of this, WFN is pleased to honor a student through the st’k’ʷək’ʷip Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students who display exceptional academic achievement and community contribution.
Scholarship Amount: $1,500.00
Eligibility: Students must be currently enrolled in a post secondary program. This scholarship is awarded to a student who display exceptional academic achievement and dedication to community.
The name “st’k’ʷək’ʷip” is a metaphor describing something physically falling on you as a responsibility to carry out or see through to its end, usually this responsibility is given to you by your community. Acknowledgement to Elder Delphine Derickson for her help with the naming of this scholarship.
Closes September 30th of each year.
ntityix Resources LP (Ntityix) was the recipient of the FPAC-CCAB 2022 Indigenous Business Leadership Award and received a donation of $5,000.00. ntityix Resources LP wishes this donation to become part of an annual award for a post-secondary student interested in pursuing post-secondary education that would provide them with the skills to work for ntityix Resources LP once they graduate.
The ntityix Resources Seven Generation plan is posted on our website Forest Management — Ntityix Resources LP and provides guidance on the variety of skills needed to carry out the plan.
Amount: $1,500.00