The Syilx Okanagan Nation in British Columbia has denied issuing a cease and desist letter purportedly protecting a controversial ostrich farm from a cull by the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and has cast doubt on its legitimacy. The Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, situated east of Kelowna, has been in a legal battle with the CFIA following an avian flu outbreak in December that resulted in the death of 69 ostriches, prompting a cull order to eliminate over 300 remaining birds at the farm.
In response to a cease and desist letter shared with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by the farm’s spokesperson, the Chiefs Executive Council of the Syilx Okanagan Nation stated that the document, which claimed protection of the farm by the Secwepemc and Sylix Tribal people, was not issued by their Nation. The letter, signed by “Manitou Wabski Kinew, legal advisor for Signatory Indian Tribes and all Subjects within Tribal Territories,” raised concerns about its authenticity, particularly due to its resemblance to the name of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.
The Syilx Okanagan Nation strongly denounced any entity that falsely invokes their name or authority for personal gain. Meanwhile, the farm’s spokesperson, Katie Pasitney, daughter of co-owner Esperen, mentioned that the Syilx and a “signatory Indian tribe” had sent the letter to protect the farm’s land and ostriches.
The ostrich farm, owned by David Bilinski and Karen Espersen, has garnered support from numerous individuals, including those associated with the Freedom Convoy movement, who view the CFIA cull order as governmental overreach. Hayden King, the executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, highlighted the appropriation of Indigenous values by non-Indigenous movements like the Freedom Convoy and Canadian Q-Anon to add credibility to their causes.
King emphasized the growing trend of Indigenous appropriation by non-Indigenous groups, attributing it to the historical effectiveness of Indigenous resistance. The mention of the “Secwepemc Signatory Tribe” in the cease and desist letter could not be verified by CBC Indigenous, with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, comprising nine Secwepemc communities, not providing an official comment at the time of reporting.
Despite Syilx leadership’s denial of involvement with the letter, Pasitney insisted on First Nations support for the ostriches but did not specify which First Nation she was referring to.