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Penticton  

PIB backtracks on Boonstock

Just hours after publicly pulling its support for the embattled Boonstock festival, the Penticton Indian Band has done an about face.

The Penticton Indian Band Council held yet another meeting today (Tuesday) regarding their support for the Boonstock event planned for this coming weekend.

As of noon today, they stated following the meeting, Boonstock organizers have fulfilled and met all requirements asked by the Penticton Band Council.

This (security) was a huge outstanding issue in terms of support being provided for the event.

The Penticton Indian Band have retracted their previous media release and as of noon today has re-instated their support for the event.

The band earlier sent out a news release stating it had withdrawn its support, because the band had not received a deposit for the costs of additional policing.

It further stated the band has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the community members, as well as to maintain the integrity of Penticton Indian Reserve lands.

This all follows on the heels of the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch stating their decision not approving the liquor license for the festival was final.

Penticton Deputy Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said it is not the city's jurisdiction or their land, so they have very little say or participation in any of these deliberations.

"It's between the promoter, the LCB, the PIB and the locatee landowners to work this out," he said.

He added that the promoters are being sidetracked with all of this only days away from the festival, but he still thinks at the end of the day, it will be a positive, good thing for Penticton.

On Tuesday afternoon, Boonstock organizers posted this on their Facebook page: We understand your concerns and we appreciate the questions you have been asking regarding drinking alcoholic beverages at Boonstock. Here are some facts:

• You CAN purchase liquor and bring it into the Boonstock campground with you
• You CAN drink at your own campsite
• You CAN come and go from the concert area as you please
• You CANNOT bring your own alcohol to the concert area
• You CANNOT walk around the campground with open alcoholic beverages

If you have festival tickets and are not happy, email us at [email protected]



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