Over 250 residents showed up in Okanagan Falls to witness the unveiling of the Salmon Chief statue on 11 August. Chiefs and elders of the neighbouring bands in the Okanagan and Similkameen attended the ceremony recognizing the importance of the area to First Nations along with Dan Albas, area MP, John Slater, MLA and Speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Bill Barisoff and Dan Ashton, Chair of the RDOS. The gathering and statue were blessed in the Okanagan Nation language by Modesa Betterton, an elder of the Osoyoos Band.
The Salmon Chief was selected by the band members at a gathering that occurred on an annual basis in Okanagan Falls. The gathering was an occasion of trading, renewing friendships and preparing the winter harvest of salmon caught in the Okanagan river at the falls. He was not necessarily a chief but was a respected member of the community tasked to ensure all members and bands had sufficient salmon to last the winter.
The statue, which stands at the north end of Cedar Street, Okanagan Falls new lakeside park was created by Smoker Marchand of the Colville Okanagan Nation Band in Colville Washington was commissioned by Bill Schwarz, Electoral Area Director for Okanagan Falls - Kaleden of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen. This has been a joint project between the Osoyoos Band and Area “D” of the RDOS. As the Chief of the Osoyoos Band said, this is the beginning of developing of trust and cooperation between the community and the Band.