Protesters picket outside PIB office in first of 2 rallies
Baptiste calls for new election of chief and council for PIB
Their demeanour was cheerful, but the message of protesters outside the Penticton Indian Band administration office was serious.
It was the first of two planned protests, the next taking place outside of the band hall as soon as it opens for the disputed byelection on Wednesday, which follows the resignation of five councilors.
Protesters held signs stating “allow proper process,” and “no quorum, no PIB government, what’s going on?”
Valerie Baptiste was among those in attendance. She said she is the rightful electoral officer for the PIB and declared in a statement released Nov. 15 that the current PIB council is a collapsed government and called for a “whole new election of the Penticton Indian Band chief and council.”
She was part of putting together the PIB’s custom election code, which she said is not being followed.
“Ever since I was removed, there have been no community decisions made,” Baptiste said. “I stand firmly beside the custom election code.”
She said communication with band members has been minimal and a letter was sent to her with council’s legal opinion on the matter.
Baptiste talked to a legal counsel herself, but decided not to move forward in that direction.
“The process they’re doing now is not supported by the people or asked of the people,” Baptiste said.
Chief Chad Eneas said in a statement sent to media outlets in September that the PIB is “maintaining its functions as a government,” implying the complaints of community members have been exaggerated.
Eneas was elected chief in 2016 and since five members of band council have resigned, including former Chief Jonathan Kruger.
Among the dozen or so protestors was Pierre Kruger, family spokesperson and Kruger family elder.
“Five councillors resigned, to me, that’s collapsed government. (The current council) are doing pretty much what they please,” Kruger said. “They haven’t talked to the people yet. The chief has been in there for over a year, he hasn’t called a band meeting. We forced them to have one meeting, the people forced them to have one meeting.”
He added there have been no decisions made in the last year, adding those regarding social assistance are gravely important to families who are counting every dollar. “You’re only as good as your leader,” Kruger said. He said any decisions made by the current council shouldn’t affect the people and businesses of the PIB due to the lack of quorum.
“Our so-called chief and council, they are told that they are the only authority on the reserve. This was told to us by Grand Chief Stewart Philip. I said ‘even over the people?’ and he said ‘yes, they are the only authority out here.’ Are we living in a communist world here?” Kruger said.
Casey Kruger, also among the protesters, claims he was interrupted while speaking at a council meeting earlier this year, after being told the meeting had to move in-camera.
“I was not yelling, calling anybody stupid or anything like that, just giving my point of view,” Casey Kruger said. “If you’re not going to let me speak, just close the meeting to everybody.”
Band spokeswoman Dawn Russel did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline, Monday.