Discover BC’s Newest Aboriginal Cultural Tourism Experience and the fascinating stories of Canada’s only desert and the people that inhabit it. The spectacular Nk.Mip (pronounced in-ka-meep) Desert Cultural Centre opened in June, 2006 and is the Okanagan’s newest family tourism destination.
The state-of-the-art interpretive centre - an architectural marvel sensitively constructed into a hillside - offers visitors the opportunity to share in the rich living culture of the Okanagan people. It is the first of several new Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences planned to open in British Columbia leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The centre is situated between agricultural vineyards and Canada’s only desert, providing clues to the distinctive nature of the native people’s relationship with their land. The use of local building materials, including rammed earth walls and a green roof, make it a natural extension of the surrounding environment; distant views of lake and mountains complete the scene.
The 20,000-square-foot exhibit centre blends indoor and outdoor galleries with interactive stations and hands-on displays that allow guests to witness live camera feedings of nesting bats, take a peek into a rattlesnake “hotel”, dig for artifacts, or settle into a tule mat teepee for storytelling and interpretive shows.
Visitors can step inside the Pit house Theatre for a multi-media performance recreating life in a traditional winter home. The Chaptik Legend Theatre features the debut film, “Coyote Spirit”, and the Inkameep Day School gallery showcases the renowned and insightful works by Nk’Mip children created at the reservation school in the 1930s and 40s. The centre’s gift shop and gallery offers unique works by First Nations artists and artisans.
Complementing these attractions is a network of self-guided walking trails through 50 acres of the Great Basin Desert. Visitors can relax and enjoy the spectacular views of Osoyoos Lake and the surrounding hills from the Chief’s Lookout, or explore a reconstructed, traditional Okanagan village complete with two pit houses, a tule mat teepee and a sweathouse. Back on the trails, visitors will encounter the rare variety of plants and animals indigenous to the region - one of the most endangered ecosystems in the country.
Most notable among the extraordinary range of native wildlife is the Western Rattlesnake. Signs scattered liberally around the property alert visitors to their presence. But while endemic to the region, the species is at risk. To help protect them, the centre, in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Service, launched the Rattlesnake Research Project. Visitors are welcome to take part in the award-winning program and can even observe as researchers capture, measure and tag the snakes with tiny microchips so that they can be studied - and better
Protected - in their natural environment. Those with an especially soft spot for the creatures can join the Adopt-a-Rattlesnake Program, where their contributions will help buy and maintain research equipment.
Nk’Mip Chaptik Theatre Meeting Room:
Equipped to accommodate groups of up to 80 people, the spacious Theatre Centre is a great fit for Annual General Meetings, Board Retreats, lecture style forums; or a movie presentation or play. This space is complete with state-of-the-art speaker surround sound, stage, and movie size picture screen and much more.
Nk’Mip Indoor Gallery Meeting Room:
Can accommodate up to 50 people comfortably for a wine & cheese, sit down dinner laid out with the finest stoneware or a simple reception to mingle with those close friends, guests, colleagues or those special delegates you want to entertain.
Nk’Mip Voices From The Past Pit house Theatre Meeting Room:
This is the perfect place to bring those intimate or very special guests to have a wine & cheese or dinner with ambiance beyond belief. This room holds up to 15 people comfortably.
Nk’Mip Outdoor Gallery Meeting Room:
This outdoor amphitheatre gallery holds up to 200 comfortably. You can sit in the stands to watch an event below in the middle to the open court yard or have dinner laid out for you in a relaxing buffet style. This is the perfect place to hold a large Annual General Meeting Luncheon or Dinner, Family or Class Reunion, or any entertainment event your wildest mind can dream up. This is also perfect for those beautiful evening nights having dinner under and stars or maybe an evening reception.
Room Name
Accommodates
Style
Chaptik Theatre
80 +
Theatre, Classroom
Indoor Gallery
20 – 50
Banquet, Reception, U-Shape, Classroom
Pit house Theatre
10 – 15
Banquet, Reception
Pit house Theatre
50 – 200
Banquet, Reception, Theatre, U-Shape, Classroom
State of the Art Audio Video
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre is equipped with the state of the art Audio Visual equipment and the best high quality surround sound. The cost for the use of audio visual equipment is detailed below. Additional technical support and equipment is available through Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and may be pre-arranged upon request.
Experience and the fascinating stories of Canada’s only desert and the people that inhabit it. The spectacular Nk.Mip (pronounced in-ka-meep) Desert Cultural Centre opened in June, 2006 and is the Okanagan’s newest family tourism destination.