snpink'tn News & Updates

Penticton, BC – The snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band strongly condemns the recent legal petition filed with the BC Supreme Court by professors Andrew Irvine, Brad Epperly, Michael Treschow, Christopher Kam, and graduate student Natham Cockram of the University of British Columbia (UBC) on April 7, 2025. The petition seeks to prohibit and restrain UBC from acknowledging its location on unceded Indigenous land, as well as from supporting or promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Click here view or download the Media Release

Snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band Ratification Vote Results March 8, 2025 for:

1. Governance Code

2. Custom Election Code

Spoiled Ballot = 1

In person votes: 59

Mail in Votes: 22

Online Votes: 40

TOTAL VOTES = 121

Governance Code: Yes – 93 No-27

Custom Election Code: Yes – 96 No-24

Click to view Vote Results Document

Dateline: snpink’tn, February 27, 2025  

The snpink’tn Indian Band (snpink’tn), the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), Province of BC and City of Penticton together with project partners including the Habitat Conservation Plan, TD Friends of the Environment and the Habitat Subcommittee of the Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee have united to restore fish passage to Okanagan Lake after almost 100 years of access restrictions for fish. READ MORE..

(snpink’tn January 14, 2025) The City of Penticton, the snpink’tn Indian Band and the Province are working to find solutions to the encampment located at Fairview Road and Highway 97.
“We want to ensure for the safety of everyone in our community and have taken steps, in partnership, to make that happen,” says Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “Working with 100 More Homes, BC Housing and Interior Health, we’ve established a winter shelter that provides support and connections for those experiencing homelessness. We’re also working with the provincial government and the snpink’tn Indian Band on the encampment located along the channel.” ………Click here to read more

The Penticton Indian Band completed the second phase of its elections with the Dec. 7 vote for council members. 

Eight council members were chosen from 18 candidates nominated by members of the community. 

The following eight candidates were elected to serve in the 2024-2028 council term, with an (i) indicating an incumbent who was re-elected:

Timmothy Lezard (i) – 189
Joseph Pierre – 172
Dolly Kruger (i) – 170
Lesley Gabriel (i) – 155
Suzanne Johnson (i) – 152
Clint Gabriel (i) – 151
Charlene Roberds (i) – 149
Kathy Pierre – 146

Out of the 315 total votes there were also 11 spoiled ballots. 

The band re-elected Chief Greg Gabriel to his position on Oct. 19 in the first phase of the band’s election process. 

The returning incumbents and newly elected councillors will begin their duties immediately.

The newly elected Chief and Council members will be officially sworn in at a ceremony to be held on December 14, 2024.

Their introduction and the welcoming of the new Council members will happen at the next regularly scheduled Chief and Council meeting on December 17th, 2024

The Penticton Indian Band community members gathered on Wednesday October 23, 2024 at the Penticton Indian Band Community Hall to carry out a nomination meeting in accordance of the current PIB Custom Elections Code for the eight (8) positions of, “Councillor”. Under the current Penticton Band Custom Election Code the band has a four-year election cycle / term. Click to Read More

The Penticton Indian Band has completed the election process for the position of Chief. The polls closed at 8:00pm and the vote count was carried out for three candidates vying for the next four-year term (2024-2028). This election had the most voter turn out in the history of elections for the Penticton Indian Band. Click to Read More

September 12, 2024

Penticton Indian Band Holds Chief Nomination Meeting

The Penticton Indian Band and community members and hopeful nominees gathered on Wednesday September 11, 2024 at the Penticton Indian Band Community Hall to nominate members for the position of, “Chief”…Click here to read the full release