The former Hedley Elementary School property may be returning fully to the Upper Similkameen Indian Band in the spirit of reconciliation.
Whether to go forward with the transfer or not will be decided by the board of School District 53 at their upcoming April 24 meeting.
The property was purchased back in 1940 through a federal Crown sale, although the Crown had held the property before that as part of the USIB’s reserve lands.
The school was operated by the Hedley School District before it became part of School District 16 and then School District 53. It closed in 2008.
Since its closure, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band has used the property for their needs.
The USIB has also been paying the property’s upkeep costs since at least 2011.
In the spirit of reconciliation, the proposal is to transfer the property fully back to the USIB for a nominal $1 consideration.
The property is located within the boundaries of the USIB’s lands at 5800 Highway 3.
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