Departure of PIB officials a mystery
Family elder stages protest outside band office over lack of explanation
The administration office of the Penticton Indian Band was subject to a one-man protest Wednesday, following an apparent exodus of senior staff.
A public notice was issued to the community Tuesday stating band administrator Brent Ryan-Lewis and human resources director Dexter MacRae had departed, but didn’t explain why.
In response, Pierre Kruger, a Kruger family elder, posted signs on the doors of the PIB office Wednesday that read: “Who’s Next?” And in much smaller print at the centre: “Is it you?”
The band administrator and human resources positions are now both being filled by Jonathan Baynes, the CEO of the PIB Economic Development Corporation, according to an information release from the band, with which Kruger also takes issue.
“That’s a conflict of interest of his position already. We do have policies which they aren’t following. We’re left in the dark. Other than gossip,” Kruger said.
“My word is my bond, so I don’t talk about secondhand information unless I hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, but for the last six months we’ve been totally oblivious to what’s going on. We get more information from the newspaper.”
Kruger was among a group of band members who called last year for a new election of chief and council, following the resignations of five councillors.
His group subsequently protested the byelection held to fill the seats. Kruger said the relationship between council and members hasn’t improved since then.
For example, he said, a motion of non-confidence put forward by his niece, and seconded by himself at a meeting, has not been acknowledged.
“First time in all my life a motion never got dealt with in our band hall,” he said.
According to Kruger, about half of the band members have expressed non-confidence in the council.
“One thing it has done is brought the families together. Where families didn’t talk to each other, we’re now talking with each other. We’re trying to do it in a good way, so far. If I had my way, the (band) office would have been shut down a long time ago,” Kruger added.
“But because there’s more people involved, the majority determines the course.”
Kruger said since he started protesting the election results, the band “has their lawyers do the talking for them.”
Band meetings that have taken place under the new council, Kruger said, are “very controlled.”
Kruger and about 10 fellow protesters told The Herald in November they were calling for a new election. Now he has a much more modest goal.
“Knowing something — it’s half the battle,” Kruger said.
The Herald was told no one at the administrative office was available for comment Wednesday during the protest, and a request for comment afterwards was not met by press deadline.