| The Okanagan is a region located in the | | | | the Thompson and Fraser rivers to Fort |
| Canadian province of British Columbia. As of | | | | Langley instead. The Okanagan Valley did not |
| the year 2001, the region's population is | | | | see many more outsiders for a decade |
| approximately 297,601. The primary city is | | | | afterward. |
| Kelowna. The name derives from an Okanagan | | | | |
| First Nations word S-Ookanhkchinx meaning | | | | In 1859, the first European settlers arrived |
| "Transport toward the head or top end". The | | | | when Father Charles Pandosy led the making of |
| region is known for outdoor activities such | | | | an Oblate mission where Kelowna is now. In |
| as skiing and hiking as well as for the wine | | | | the decades that followed, hundreds of |
| industry. | | | | ranchers came from all directions to settle |
| | | | on Okanagan Lake. The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush |
| History | | | | of 1858 drove more settlement as some |
| | | | prospectors from the United States took the |
| The Okanagan Valley was home to Aboriginal | | | | old Okanagan trade route on their way to the |
| people for thousands of years before others | | | | Fraser Canyon. A few staked claims around the |
| arrived. The Okanagan Nation, an Interior | | | | Okanagan and Similkameen valleys and found |
| Salish people who lived in the valley from | | | | gold and copper in places. A mining industry |
| the head of Okanagan Lake downstream to near | | | | began in the southern Okanagan region, and |
| the river's confluence with the Columbia | | | | more farmers, as well as a small service |
| River in present-day Washington, as well as | | | | industry, came to meet the needs of the |
| in the neighbouring Similkameen Valley, | | | | miners. |
| numbered in the thousands (no precise figure | | | | |
| is known) at the time of contact with | | | | Fruit production is a hallmark of the |
| European settlers. They were | | | | Okanagan Valley today, but the industry began |
| hunter-gatherers, living off wild game and | | | | with difficulty. Commercial orcharding of |
| berries and roots for the most part but | | | | apples was first tried there in 1892, but a |
| travelling north or south to fish salmon runs | | | | series of setbacks prevented the major |
| or to trade with other nations. | | | | success of commercial fruit crops until the |
| | | | 1920s. But until the 1930s, the demand for |
| In 1811 came the first non-natives to the | | | | shipping fruit and other goods did drive a |
| Okanagan Valley, a fur trading expedition | | | | need for the sternwheeler steamboats that |
| voyaging north out of Fort Okanogan, a | | | | serviced Okanagan Lake: the S.S. Aberdeen |
| Pacific Fur Company outpost at the confluence | | | | from 1886 and then the S.S. Sicamous and S.S. |
| of the Okanagan and Columbia rivers. Within | | | | Naramata from 1914. The Sicamous and Naramata |
| fifteen years, fur traders established a | | | | survive as a tourist attraction in Penticton. |
| route through the valley for passing goods | | | | |
| between the Thompson region and the Columbia | | | | While the last half-century has grown several |
| River for transport to the Pacific. The trade | | | | resource-based enterprises in the region, for |
| route lasted until 1846, when the Oregon | | | | instance forestry in Princeton, the |
| Treaty laid down the border between British | | | | fastest-growing industries in the Okanagan |
| North America and the United States west of | | | | today are tourism and retirement |
| the Rocky Mountains on the 49th parallel. The | | | | accommodation. Advantaged by its sunny |
| new border cut across the valley. To avoid | | | | climate, lakes, and winery attractions, the |
| paying tariffs, British traders forged a | | | | valley has become a hot destination for |
| route that bypassed Fort Okanogan, following | | | | vacationers and retirees. |