NOTICE TO SNPINK’TN (PENTICTON) INDIAN BAND MEMBERSHIP
(September 11, 2025)
Click here to see Chief and Council Official Notice
Chief and Council have the responsibility and wish to ensure that membership is aware of per- and polyfluoroallyl substances (PFAS) contamination on certain reserve lands from actions by Transport Canada on the Penticton Airport lands, and this contamination’s potential risk to human health, siwłkʷ (water) and tmixw (all living things)(map attached). Chief and Council are demanding that Canada remediate and mitigate this contamination.
Transport Canada notified PIB that since 2017 and up to 2023 they were aware that PFAS were present in the shallow groundwater and soils and that the contamination was moving towards PIB reserve lands. They only advised the PIB of the contamination in 2023.
Chief and Council immediately began working with Transport Canada to test drinking water on certain reserve lands surrounding the Penticton Airport. Your tap water continues to be safe to drink. The water delivered to member’s taps from the groundwater supply wells near to the source of contamination meets all Canadian Health guidelines for drinking water (see attached PowerPoint presentations).
Chief and Council also demanded that additional sampling and remediation take place in the oxbows adjacent to the airport. On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Chief and Council were recently notified that PFAS were present in the shallow groundwater, surface water, soils, and wild asparagus on certain lands east of the airport.
PFAS chemicals build up over time and can cause cancer and other illnesses when they reach higher concentrations in the body. Concentrations of PFAS in drinking water and harvest plants and animals are very low but can contribute to levels found in people’s bodies from commercial sources.
Transport Canada and Health Canada have stated that they cannot advise on the safety of water, soil, and plants in the area at this time and require more sampling and to complete a human health risk assessment. We encourage members to avoid contact with water, soil, animals, and plants in the oxbow area near the Penticton airport until we receive confirmation from Health Canada that the area is safe (see attached map).
We remain committed to protecting our members, lands, and water and will continue to update our website with information on new regulatory guidance and other PFAS related information:
For more information, please email your questions to: PACEnvironment-environnement@tc.gc.ca
BACKGROUND INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS
- May 2025- PFAS Assessment at the Penticton Airport
- November 2024 – PFAS Presentation to Community
- August 2023- Penticton Airport Former Fire Training Area PFAS Assessment Overview
May 2025- PFAS Assessment at the Penticton Airport