CHARLOTTE STRINGAM – COUNCILLOR

I am a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, my great grandfather and great grandmother were Chief Manual Louie & Margaret (Alexis) Louie and my grandfather and grandmother were Chief Louie Louie & Isabel (George) Louie. My father and mother were Everett Allen & Lillian (Louie) Allen. I am very proud of my ancestral heritage.I was married to the late Jerry Sanders for 37 years. We had 4 children, three sons and 1 daughter. And they’re all married, and are beginning their families. I have 5 beautiful grandchildren.I have recently remarried, a dear friend from my past. He took me to my high school graduation over 40 years ago. His name is Michael Stringam. And so I have added a new husband, a new stepson and his wife and a new stepdaughter and 2 new grandchildren to my family circle.I began work at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in 2002 as an interpreter. And that particular employment has been one of the most fulfilling jobs I have ever had. It was a summer of learning, growth, development and truly a beginning of grasping the concept of what a rich and unique culture I come from. I was not living in Canada at the time, but the Osoyoos Indian Band kept calling me back on projects, and my mother Lillian Allen told me it was time to move home. So my late husband and I did move back to Canada. And my life has been a whirlwind ever since.I have and still have the opportunity of working with Chief Clarence Louie as one of his councilors. I have witnessed an extraordinary growth and change in the Osoyoos Indian Band. And I have seen so much change and leadership in our community. It is a different community then what I knew some 40 years ago.

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