Feds not getting involved

Photo: Colin Dacre

A contentious PIB nomination meeting last week

The federal government is not getting involved in the political strife of the Penticton Indian Band.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada says they do not have the authority to intervene in the First Nation’s internal politics, because the band has a custom election system.

“When a First Nation’s custom election process is outside the electoral provisions of the Indian Act, the Department has no role in how the community’s leadership is selected, or how governance disputes are resolved,” spokeswoman Valérie Hache said in a statement.

Opponents of Chief Chad Eneas sent INAC a letter last week on behalf of 117 band members, calling for a new election to be called, after a series of councillor resignations left council with just four of nine original members.

“The Department will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the delivery of essential programs and services to band members is not jeopardized as a result of the governance dispute,” Hache said, adding INAC has offered funding support for mediation, facilitation and community engagement.

A large political divide within the PIB community was made public last week when, in a rare move, reporters were invited to the band's nomination meeting to fill the five vacant council seats.

Opponents of Eneas, including former Chief Jonathan Kruger, attempted to declare that nomination meeting illegal. Byelection day is set for Nov. 22.