Clarence Louie

Clarence Louie (born 1960)

Early life Louie was born near Oliver and raised on the Osoyoos reserve by a single mother. Due to high unemployment, many adults in the community had to work as transient labourers on fruit orchards in nearby Washington state. Louie was forced to be self-sufficient during his childhood years. At age 19, he left British Columbia and enrolled in First Nations University in Regina, Saskatchewan. He then studied native studies at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. He started the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation (OIBDC) in 1988.

Louie has served 10 terms as of 2012, winning every election but one since 1985. In 2004, he received the Order of British Columbia. Louie has also been involved in land claim settlements with the provincial government.