Far too often Aboriginal design is visually inferred by times past, while Nk’Mip deliberately celebrates a culture’s present. We get our cooler climate varietals from vineyards situated more northerly in the valley, and our Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc all come from the 350-acre vineyard in Oliver, which is owned and managed by the OIB. 57 were here. Nk’Mip is the first of a number of new B.C. “You never stop learning. ). At Nk’Mip Cellars, we are the dedicated guardians of a proud legacy. The Osoyoos Indian Band people honour the hard working, self-supporting lifestyle of our ancestors by developing our own economy through our business initiatives. INKAMEEP VINEYARDS LTD., NK’MIP CELLARS, NK’MIP DESERT AND HERITAGE CENTRE, OSOYOOS FIRST NATION (OSOYOOS INDIAN BAND) ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY Before Nk'Mip, Hall says the spot the winery sits on was just a sandhill with a burn pile at the bottom. The Nk’Mip Cellars are a joint venture between the OIB and Constellation Brands, famous for their Jackson Triggs wine. Now an award-winning wine producer, Nk’Mip (pronounced ‘ink-a-meep’) is North America’s first aboriginal owned winery. “You’re always going to find something new and different with each vintage,” says Picton. “Before we did anything, we did a proper feasibility study, and built a business plan,” says Louie. We extend an invitation to discover, not only the international award … Click here to read more from Salut, our quarterly wine and food publication, tap here to see other videos from our team. We have 50-75 acres we micromanage from that vineyard, the balance of that they sell off to other wineries.”. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As advocates for the expression of pluralism through design we’re grateful for all we learned from The Sylix people, and hope The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Center inspires First Nation’s youth to join … As the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, we are inspired to express our culture in everything we do. “The most wine we’ve ever produced was 20,000 cases in 2014, which is an excellent vintage,” says Louie. Or visit nkmipcellars.com. Please try again. Girl in Okanagan Dress, Francis Baptiste Sis-hu-lk, Nk’Mip First Nation, n.d. Nk’Mip Resort, Nk’Mip Campground, Spirit Ridge Golf course, and the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre are all located nearby and are teeming with Okanagan heritage and legends. Located on the traditional lands of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), the cellar sits in the midst of the Sonoran Desert landscape and is surrounded by vineyards. Our band, businesses and partners offer rewarding employment opportunities. Cellar supervisor Aaron Crey, a member of the Cheam Indian Band (near Chilliwack), has been with the winery since 2003. “But we usually get around 18,000.”. aboriginal centres, and part of a growing trend to explore the expressive potential of architecture to convey the rich past and the transforming future of aboriginal culture. “Business doesn’t happen if you don’t have a proper plan.”, “Before we did anything, we did a proper feasibility study, and built a business plan,” says Louie. “Randy showed me how to uphold the highest quality of standards throughout the entire production from grape to bottle.”. “Our mandate for the winery is to produce wine off native soil,” says Picton. The winery and surrounding vineyards share a unique ecosystem with Canada’s only pocket desert. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Vincor was bought by Constellation Brands in 2006, which recently sold its Canadian wine arm to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for $1.03 billion. “Business doesn’t happen if you don’t have a proper plan.” The grapes come from their vineyard close to Oliver, B.C., where they have 300 acres dedicated specifically to the Nk’Mip cellar. The bright and inviting winery showcases First Nations culture in design, food and wine. We’re allowed to cross blend up to 15 per cent vintage to vintage. We believe in the power of our own voice to inspire, educate, and transform. Our Winery itself is a bold celebration and a strong reflection of our commitment to authenticity and deep respect for our colourful past. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. The first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, Nk’Mip Cellars offers tours and tastings on the Osoyoos reservation of southern Okanagan Valley. Ernest Baptiste, Nk’Mip First Nation,1938, Gouche on mat board, On loan from the Osoyoos Museum Society, Inkameep Day School Collection, Oliver, BC. Adorning the labels on the […] We extend an invitation to discover, not only the international award-winning wines we … success story. The Okanagan First Nation people have lived in this region from time immemorial. National Indigenous Peoples Day at Nk’Mip Cellars was a chance to celebrate local First Nations art, music, food and of course wine. “Some of natives get more graphic than that and suggest ‘best effing thing that you want to stand on the mountain top and shout about’. The difficult thing from a winemaking perspective is that you only get one shot every year and you have to wait until next year to make changes to your program. Nk’Mip Cellars. “(The idea was) to utilize our high quality grapes and actually make wine out of them instead of selling grapes to so many of people, and them all profiting from it. In 1997, he started as the General Manager of Nk’Mip Campground and RV Park. Twice a year band chief Clarence Louie and his council members meet with the corporate side of the company to discuss the direction of the winery. Although the cellar started out as a dream shared by members of the OIB, hard work and planning is the root of its success. The event at the winery next to the Spirit Ridge resort on Thursday, June 21 was used to introduce two Meritage wines – a red and a white. For a proper meal, … © 2021 Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Located on the traditional lands of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), the cellar sits in the midst of the Sonoran Desert landscape and is surrounded by vineyards. Standing proudly on a ridge above Osoyoos Lake, Nk’Mip Cellars began 15 years ago as a collaboration between Canadian wine company Vincor and the Osoyoos Indian Band. “They understand the value of corporate buying power with regard to materials, and built-in marketing, so they are quite willing to allow the corporate side to run things on a day-to-day basis.”. The cellar has a tasting room and wine shop that are open year round, as well as a seasonal patio. Nk’Mip Cellars entered 14 different wines into the national competition and all 14 won gold, silver or bronze medals during the competition, including four which received gold. In the busy season, they employ up to 30 people. Enjoy two theatres, indoor and outdoor exhibits and trails. in 2000 on the north end of our reserve, Nk’Mip canyon. Many people are working to protect this area, such as members of the Nk’Mip First Nation and groups such as the Desert Society and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.Volunteers, government workers, and scientists are also helping to restore plants and animals that once thrived here and to educate people about this region. They are a member of the Okanagan Nation Alliance. All of the grapes used in Nk’Mip wines are from OIB lands, and are processed on site with the winemaking taking place in the cellar. Crey is now working on a new Merlot, while Hall — an OIB member who has also been with Picton since 2004 — oversees the Pinot Blancs and Dreamcatcher aromatic white blend. Justin Hall, Nk’Mip Cellars Winemaker, OIB Member First Nations people have always worked for a living, and today, we continue to honour the hard working, self-supporting lifestyle of our ancestors. nk’mip first nation: This route is further defined by channel of water that draws people towards the entry, past the cor-ten steel gate of the service court and administration access. Why not profit from it ourselves?”. Located on Haida Nation land 25 minutes from Massett, down a majestic dirt road, and nestled within the beautiful Naikoon Park boundaries in an ancient village on Northern Haida Gwaii. Opt for the Four Food Chiefs pairing to sample dishes inspired by major ingredients in Indigenous cuisine — bear, bitterroot, salmon, and Saskatoon berries — alongside wines ranging from pinot noir to riesling to rosé. The next issue of Vancouver Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. In the Okanagan language the word Nk’Mip, pronounced inn-kah-MEEP, means “bottomland,” and the winery is thus named because of its location at the southernmost end of what was originally the band’s winter hunting grounds. The Osoyoos Desert Society, a non-profit society founded in 1991, maintains the Osoyoos Desert Centre, a 67-acre nature interpretive facility 3 km (2 mi) north of Osoyoos off Highway 97. Our first off-reserve business purchase also occurred in 2000 when we bought and moved a cement plant on to the reserve. “We already had 300 acres of very high quality grapes … and they thought it was in our best interests to come together and make a winery,” says band member and assistant winemaker Justin Hall. 2 The Osoyoos Band, a First Nations government located in British Columbia, runs the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre as part of its resort and winery complex, which is located on the east side of Osoyoos. “We’re not making Coca-Cola here, so we don’t expect everything to be the same year in year out, but would like to have some consistency,” he says. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. “We started out with having a vineyard,” says Chief Clarence Louie, of the OIB. Nk'Mip Cellars/Facebook Such ownership carries layers of significance. This is truly a "GLAMPING" experience. We encountered an issue signing you up. I was confused at first trying to understand the different designations for the native peoples in the area. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Nk’Mip Cellars. As the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, we are inspired to express our culture in everything we do. Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre: Wonderful Introduction to Osoyoos First Nations - See 498 traveler reviews, 177 candid photos, and great deals for Osoyoos, Canada, at Tripadvisor. NK’MIP Resource Centre and OIBDC offer a wide range of health services, social programs, housing options and support to help OIB community members stay connected, active and moving forward. The band controls about 32,000 acres of land in the vicinity of the town of Oliver and Osoyoos. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. (“I’ve heard different interpretations, says Picton. 06 Sustainable Initiatives in First Nations GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES The Vision Achieve economic self-sufficiency through developments that balance social responsibility and economic opportunities. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Learn More Chris Nelson. Consistency is key, and for Picton that means cross-blending to achieve it. If you have a weaker vintage you can blend that into a stronger vintage, or vice versa. Two new wines are due to be released in 2017: a QQ Riesling and a white Mer’r’iym  (a Cabernet Sauvignon and Semillon blend). There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Aaron Crey is cellar supervisor at Nk’Mip Cellars in Osoyoos. The winery is the only one owned and operated by a First Nation band in Canada. “The band has over 1000 acres in production, and we have about five or six different vineyards that we source grapes from. The Osoyoos Indian band shares their cultural heritage at the Nk’Mip Resort. Chief Clarence Louie, © 2021 Indigenous Business and Investment Council, Indigenous Business and Investment Council, Agriculture, Accommodation and Food Services, Taan Forest: Protecting Haida Values trough Sustainable Forestry. NK’MIP Cellars was designed as a small winery with a production capacity of 18,000 cases, focusing not on volume, but in the creation of small quantities of high-end wine. Being named the top winery in the ultra-competitive wine industry in B.C. Introducing 5 FP Newsletters: Energy, Economy, Investor, Work and Finance, Financial Post: Introducing 5 Newsletters, SALUT: First Nation winemakers, Nk’mip Cellars a real B.C. Nk’Mip Cellars is part of a greater Indigenous tourism package that the OIB has assembled to showcase their heritage, and provide an incredibly memorable experience for visitors from around the world. Read more about cookies here. The architectural expression pushes the boundaries of First Nation’s architecture. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Nk’Mip Cellars wine lovers are encouraged to pay a visit to the winery this summer to experience the exceptional wines in their gorgeous desert setting. Chris Nelson is the Manager at Copper Sun Journeys & Gallery in Bella Coola, BC. As advocates for the expression of pluralism through design we’re grateful for all we learned from The Sylix people, and hope The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Center inspires First Nation’s youth to join … Picton and his team consult with the band about wine names to find words from the Okanagan language that capture the spirit of the wines. The band's Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre is located on the east side of Osoyoos. “A lot of that we can do through blending. The Syilx of the Okanagan Nation are eight communities or bands, seven are in British Columbia and one in Washington which uses the term tribe instead of band. Nk’Mip (In Ka Meep) Cellars is the world’s first First Nation’s-owned vine-to-bottle winery, located in the B.C.’s beautiful South Okanagan. The architectural expression pushes the boundaries of First Nation’s architecture. Nk’Mip (In Ka Meep) Cellars is the world’s first First Nation’s-owned vine-to-bottle winery, located in the B.C.’s beautiful South Okanagan. Our seven traditional Haida style longhouses and our group longhouse provide comfortable and cozy accommodations. At Nk’Mip Cellars, we are the dedicated guardians of a proud legacy. Community Description. “The cellar has a mosaic depicting the four food chiefs,” says Louie. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. “The Bear, who is the chief of all the animals that live on the ground; the Salmon, who is the chief of all the beings who live in the water; the Bitter Root, who is chief of all food that grows in the ground; and the Saskatoon Berry, who is Chief of all the food that grows above the ground.”. Also situated in the city, the gallery showcases the works of the acclaimed … Nk’Mip’s premiere tier of wines is named Qwam Qwmt, which means “achieving excellence”. NK’MIP Cellars also has the distinction of having the World’s first, First Nations assistant winemaker – band member Justin Hall. Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. It’s the first aboriginal-owned and-operated winery in North America, and a flagship property of the Osoyoos Indian Band — a member of the Okanagan Nation. Far too often Aboriginal design is visually inferred by times past, while Nk’Mip deliberately celebrates a culture’s present. There is also a tour of the wine making process that includes some history of the Okanagan people. When it came to naming Nk’Mip’s Bordeaux style red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec,  the name Mer’r’iym (marriage) was chosen to celebrate the perfect union of these grapes. Over the years we’ve become more familiar with our blocks of our grapes, and we have a very good understanding of the winery.”. His Nuxalk name, Xawisus, means copper or metallic sky. We were honoured to have been part of this acclaimed brand and worked with the Osoyoos Indian Band to capture the cultural authenticity and deep historic roots in … Entry into the interpretive center occurs at the midpoint of the gently arcing wall. “In the beginning all I knew about wine was that there’s a red one and a white one, and I liked some more than others but I wasn’t sure why,” laughs Crey. The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) has a 51 per cent stake in the winery. Nk’Mip Cellars is North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. Nk'Mip Cellars in Osoyoos is North America’s first aboriginal owned winery. The Okanagan First Nations people have lived in the region for tens of thousands of years and carefully tended to its land and resources. We all want a strong and healthy community. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. The Osoyoos Indian Band is a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located in the town of Oliver and Osoyoos in the Okanagan valley, approximately four kilometres north of the Canada–United States border. Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre is a unique and informative way to experience the First Nation's of the area, the Okanagan People. “As good business people, the OIB understands the value of the relationship with the corporate wine company,” says senior winemaker Randy Picton. We use those opportunities if we need to, to maintain the consistencies in the portfolio.”. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Untitled, Francis Baptiste Sis-hu-lk, Nk’Mip First Nation, c.1938-1943, On loan from the Osoyoos Museum Society, Inkameep Day School Collection, Oliver, BC. First Nations' First in Wine Nk’Mip Cellars (pronounced in-ka-meep) is North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery. Now an award-winning wine producer, Nk’Mip (pronounced ‘ink-a-meep’) is North America’s first aboriginal owned winery. “We already had 300 acres of very high quality grapes … “And everyone who has a vineyard dreams of having a winery.”. The rest of their grapes come from another 900 acres Constellation manages on OIB lands. It’s an excellent pinot noir, made even more special by its origins: “Q2” is the top wine of Nk’Mip Cellars winery, the first aboriginal owned and operated winery in North America. Other than that, all of our other busi-nesses have seen growth and additional jobs and we have continued to invest addition capital into our existing companies. Since the early days, Picton has encouraged aboriginal team members to be involved in the winemaking process. Enjoy our award winning premium VQA wines sourced for the Osoyoos Indian Bands Inkameep Vineyard that was first … THE BILL REID GALLERY. The phrase means “achieving excellence,” in the Salish language of Canada’s First Nations. … • Catch Picton and the team at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, where he will be pouring the 2015 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay, 2014 Winemaker’s series Talon, 2015 Riesling Icewine, 2015 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir, and the 2014 Mer’r’iym. NK'MIP Resource Centre 1165 SenPokChin Blvd Oliver, BC V0H1T8 P 250-498-6935. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. Our Winery itself is a bold celebration and a strong reflection of our commitment to authenticity and deep respect for our colourful past. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected.