Penticton Indian Band demands resignation of controversial Okanagan MLA

The Penticton Indian Band is calling for the resignation of an Okanagan MLA after a statement was issued about the federal election results which said Indigenous sovereignty was a problem for BC.

Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong was elected as a BC Conservative in the fall but left the party to sit as an Independent to support a member, Dallas Brodie, who was ousted from the party for mocking residential school survivors.

Armstrong, Brodie and another former BC Conservative turned Independent MLA Jordan Kealy released a statement following the federal election that condemned the Liberal victory.

“Successive Liberal governments have neglected to address crucial issues impacting British Columbia: increasing CCP influence in BC politics, more than 200 Indigenous bands asserting sovereignty, and ongoing equalization disparities,” the statement read.

Penticton (snpink’tn) Indian Band’s Chief Greg Gabriel and council released a statement condemning all three MLAs for “perpetuating racist narratives and systemic discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.”

“Indigenous sovereignty is not a threat — it is the law,” band’s statement said. “Assertions of Indigenous sovereignty are constitutionally protected rights and affirmed by Canadian and international law.”

The band said the MLAs statement undermines reconciliation efforts and demonstrates systemic racism that shouldn’t have a place in the government.

“We call for their immediate resignation,” the statement said. “Real prosperity in British Columbia must include justice and equity for all, not only those benefiting from colonial structures.”

There’s already a petition calling for Armstrong’s recall, but voters can’t force a byelection for the first 18 months after an election.