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Grand Chief Stewart Phillip is confident the political strife within the Penticton Indian Band will “resolve itself,” as the the band pushes forward with byelections for five council seats left vacant by resignations.
“The path forward is to proceed with the byelection… not to dwell on the current situation,” he said Thursday.
Phillip was clear the comments were being made as a PIB member and former leader, not in his current capacity as President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.
He said in his 24 years on PIB council — 14 as Chief — he went through some pretty challenging times.
“But I never once thought about quitting,” Phillip said, adding council members have a responsibility to serve their community by serving out the terms they were elected for.
PIB Chief Chad Eneas is currently facing a political insurgency from a segment of the community calling for an entirely new election in the wake of five councillor resignations.
Instead, the band has announced a byelection to fill the seats for Nov. 22. At a nomination meeting last week, the divide within the community was on display as opponents of Eneas attempted to declare the meeting illegal.
The opponents, including former Chief Jonathan Kruger, were upset the band's longtime elected electoral officer was dismissed in favour of an outside third party. The former officer, Valerie Baptiste, had previously called for a new election.
The federal government has said it will not be getting involved in the situation, as the PIB as a custom election code.
“The two sides are pretty entrenched in their world view,” Phillip said, reiterating that the band has to push forward with the byelection plans to put the turmoil behind them.
Phillip’s wife, Joan, is one of the candidates running in the byelection, something the dissident group raised in a letter to media this week that questions the Grand Chief’s impartiality.
The full list of the confirmed byelection candiates below:
- Anoma Kampe
- Ernest Jack
- Fred Kruger
- Inez Pierre
- Joan Phillip
- Darrell “Ken” Armstrong
- Kevin Gabriel
- Kyle Windwalker Alec
- Lauire Wilson aka Laurie Cerenzie
