The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens not to travel to the United States, citing safety concerns following the fatal shooting of an ONA nation member by the RCMP in British Columbia late last month. The advisory, released by ONA leadership, reflects deepening concern among Indigenous communities about interactions with law-enforcement and the risks of cross-border travel in the wake of the incident.
The ONA, a collective representing Syilx/Okanagan First Nations across British Columbia and Washington State, said the measure is aimed at protecting the well-being of Indigenous citizens and drawing attention to what it describes as “ongoing disregard for Indigenous lives and sovereignty.” The alliance emphasised that the advisory is not legally binding but represents a strong recommendation to avoid travel to the U.S. until safety issues can be better understood and addressed.
The advisory follows the Jan. 24 killing of a 37-year-old ONA member in a confrontation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) during a law-enforcement operation in B.C. Details surrounding the shooting — including the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force — have been the subject of public scrutiny, protests and calls for independent investigation from Indigenous leaders and rights advocates.
In a statement, ONA leadership said the advisory was motivated by a desire to protect community members from potential harm and to highlight a broader pattern of systemic issues with law-enforcement interactions involving Indigenous peoples on both sides of the border. ONA officials stressed that many Indigenous citizens have familial, cultural and economic ties that span Canada and the United States, and that the advisory seeks to raise awareness about perceived risks during travel.
The alliance also called for comprehensive reforms to law-enforcement practices and for governments to engage in meaningful dialogue with Indigenous communities about safety, sovereignty and accountability. Indigenous leaders have long advocated for changes that would reduce tensions and prevent future fatalities in encounters with police.
The travel advisory has been met with mixed reactions within the Okanagan Nation, with some citizens supporting the precautionary message and others expressing frustration that it could impede cross-border family, cultural and economic exchanges. Many residents regularly travel to the U.S. for business, healthcare, education and family visits, underscoring the complex implications of the advisory.
Indigenous rights organisations outside the Okanagan Nations have also expressed solidarity and reiterated calls for transparent investigations into the fatal shooting. Advocates say systemic reform is needed at all levels of government to address historical injustices and ongoing disparities affecting Indigenous peoples.
The RCMP has said it is cooperating with investigative authorities and that details about the shooting will be released as appropriate once reviews are completed. Meanwhile, the ONA says it will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance to citizens about travel and safety.
Former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien spoke in Ottawa, rejecting separatism and ur
Canada’s privacy commissioner urges a national AI framework to safeguard privacy rights and protect
Almost one year after B.C. mother Jennifer Provencal vanished, her family continues searching with n
The Okanagan Nation Alliance urged Indigenous citizens not to travel to the U.S., citing safety conc
