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The Nooaitch Indian Band Lands are located within the Thompson-Nicola region of the southern Interior. The main Nooaitch I.R. #10 encompasses 903.1 hectares, and is located along the Nicola River corridor, beginning approximately 23 kilometers west of Merritt, adjacent to the Merritt-Spence’s Bridge Highway #8. The second Nooaitch Reserve, #9 Grass is 790.3 hectares, and is located northeast of IR #10 between the Nicola River Valley and Guichon Creek.
Nooaitch lands are situated along the eastern edge of the Spius Creek Volcanic Formation, with andesitic rock being common throughout. The Thompson-Okanagan region has rolling topography with extensive river and creek systems. Lakes are to the northeast of the Nooaitch IR. The elevation of the Nooaitch lands range from 500 meters at the Nicola River, to approximately 1000 meters on IR #10.
The closest urban certain is Merritt with a population of approximately 7,000. Merritt provides the main commercial area for the Nooaitch community. Nooaitch community members are currently dependent on Merritt for most of the shopping, health, employment, social service and education needs. At present, there are no commercial enterprises operating on Nooaitch reserve lands.
From an aesthetic perspective, much of the Nooaitch reserve land is in relatively pristine condition and the river, steep slopes and well treed areas should be considered of high value. Preserving the aesthetic value while promoting development will be a critical balancing act for the Nooaitch Land Manager and the community in general.
The Comprehensive Community Planning process is the gateway for Nooaitch Band to plan our future together and will serve the needs of the membership for the next 15 to 20 years. The community-based planning brings community members together to discuss how they want their community to be for their future seven generations. It is important for the success of the CPP that community members engage in the consultation meetings for their input, in the strengths and issues, to review the vision, develop an action plan, implement, and monitor projects. The plans and documents completed will be reviewed by Chief, Council, along with the Community to set their goals and show gaps where needed in the community.
The CCP will enhance the 5 year Strategic plan that Chief and Council have been diligently working on in the past 2 years with Deb and Nancy from KDC. The CCP Outline will be a guide for the planning process. Encouraging Elders, Youth, to take ownership of their ideas and input, and Band members to attend and provide their input.
The Plan will guide the Council and Management with their Governance and Administration to accomplish Goals and Objectives. The Plan will be revisited annually to review completed task and to be updated.
Nooaitch Council priorities are building their Council and staff capacity, moving ahead with strategic planning, community, land use planning and economic development. The Council has identified a need for strategic planning. Strategic planning is an organization’s process of defining its strategy and making decisions on allocating its resources (both financial and human resources) to pursue their strategies.
In 2010/2011 Nooaitch was successful in receiving the INAC Professional and Institutional Development Funding to develop the Council Five Year Plan. The Plan pulled together information from the workshop and the Plan will become an integral part of the Council Governance Manual and will be reviewed annually. The Plan will guide the Council and Management with their Governance and Administration to accomplish Goals and Objectives. The Plan will be revisited annually to review completed task and to be updated.