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Penticton Indian Band

City and Penticton Indian Band sign agreement to grow local economy together

PENTICTON - The City of Penticton and the Penticton Indian Band have agreed to work together to develop the local economy. The two governments signed an agreement today, Jan. 4, to work together on tourism and economic development, according to a media release. The Penticton Indian Band has agreed to zone some of its land for...

Unique gifts for sale at Indigenous Arts and Craft Fair in Penticton

PENTICTON - A 10-year-old Christmas tradition continues on the Penticton Indian Reserve this weekend. The Indigenous Arts & Craft Fair takes place at the En’owkin Centre from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Those looking for unique Christmas gift ideas could find what they are looking for a short drive west of...

Penticton Indian Band economic success turning heads across Canada

PENTICTON - The wave of economic progress taking hold at the Penticton Indian Band has caught the attention of national business leaders and other First Nations across Canada. The Band’s development corporation has been named Economic Developer of the Year by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) at their 22nd Annual...

Penticton Moccasin Run promotes cultural values, health

PENTICTON - The Penticton Indian Band’s Outma Sqilx’ Cultural School played host to students from the Okanagan Nation Alliance on Friday, Oct.16. The school hosted the fourth annual Moccasin Mile - a cross country running race involving First Nations schools from Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna. Organizer Karolyn Bonneau says the students 9-years-old...

Dying Nsyilxcn language given new life in classroom

OKANAGAN - Reviving an endangered language is a daunting task but Syilx Language House is going to try to do just that with Nsyilxcn, the Okanagan language. Thirteen beginning students have signed on with five co-teachers, who are also students. Lead teacher Michele Johnson says in a media release there are fewer than 100 fluent...

Why the bridge to nowhere in Penticton is actually going somewhere

PENTICTON - It’s being called a “bridge to nowhere” by some on social media, but developers building the Satikw Bridge at Green Avenue on the Penticton river channel say that’s an unfair label for a project which has taken two decades to come to fruition. Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation’s economic development consultant Chris Scott...

Penticton native centre provides cultural grounding

PENTICTON - A First Nations educational initiative that began more than 40 years ago has grown into a cultural institution aiming to connect and strengthen Aboriginal Peoples with their heritage and culture. The En’owkin Centre got its start in the 1970s as the Okanagan Indian Cirriculum Project and provided instruction for native students from Kindergarten...

Penticton Indian Band steps toward self-governance

PENTICTON  -The Penticton Indian Band took a big step forward in its ability to self govern as the band formally announced their participation in the First Nations Land Management Regime today, June 30. The regime will allow the Penticton band opportunity to opt out of 32 land-related sections of the Indian Act in order to...

Business building at Penticton First Nations event

PENTICTON - First Nations business groups from all over Western Canada are in Penticton this week to do business. The Penticton Indian Band is hosting their third Aboriginal Business Match at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. “This is an opportunity for us to showcase our developments, to show others what we’re doing and inspire...

Over $2-million worth of waterfront improvements proposed in Penticton

PENTICTON - The details surrounding a major waterfront improvement along Lakeshore Drive in Penticton are out as the SS Sicamous Master Plan moves forward. Consultant Ed Grifone presented the plan to city council, Tuesday, April 7, and the counsellors endorsed the plan with first reading of a bylaw intended to incorporate the plan into the Official...

Fire fighters put out shed fire near Kaleden

PENTICTON – A fire crew from the Penticton Indian Band made short work of a shed fire early this morning. Fire fighters were called to the fire on Marron Valley Road, north of Highway 3A, near Kaleden at about 12:48 a.m., Saturday, March 14. Fire chief Barry Phillip says the shed was fully involved when...

More to Penticton bridge project than meets the eye

PENTICTON - As bridges go, one wouldn’t think the new Satik bridge currently under construction at Green Avenue and the Channel Parkway in Penticton would be a very complicated project. After all, it’s a small bridge, with a low span running a distance of 100 feet or so. But there is more to the Satik...

Construction begins on bridge to economic development in Penticton

PENTICTON - Preliminary construction on the new bridge across the Channel Parkway at Green Avenue began this week. Flaggers and traffic cones lined the road north and south of the Green Avenue intersection on Friday as workers removed traffic islands, causing some confusion to motorists as well as some minor slowdowns. Penticton Indian Band Chief...

Fire in southwest hills almost out

PENTICTON - A large slash pile fire that started on Wednesday night on the Southwest hills of Penticton is nearly out after if was left to burn out naturally. The Penticton Indian Band fire crew stood by the fire that was approximately 100 square feet and 20 feet high but because of the size of...

Southwest hills ablaze in possible logging fire

PENTICTON - A fire that began burning on Penticton Indian Band land Wednesday night is being controlled by the Band Fire Department, however it will take a few days to burn out since it is too large a fire to put out.  Dispatch received calls about the fire on the Southwest hills just before 7...

Body found in abandoned shed

PENTICTON - The body of a deceased male was found in an abandoned shed behind Super Save Gas in Penticton Monday. The shed is located in a field off Green Mountain Road, on Penticton Indian Band land. RCMP say the body appeared to have been there for several days, however the death is not being...

Penticton gets two more fire fighters and home-base training

PENTICTON - The city is expanding its firefighting resources by adding three personnel, including a training officer, to the team. Two firefighters and a training officer will be hired to start January 1, 2015. Discussions with the Penticton Indian Band led the city to expand its coverage area and allow the band’s volunteer firefighters to...

Channel Bridge project moves a step closer to reality

PENTICTON - Another step forward for the Channel Crossing bridge as the Penticton Indian Band accepts bids on the multi-million dollar project. Companies will give their best estimates of how much it will cost to build the five-lane bridge, traffic signals and highway improvements. Engineers have created detailed designs and specification books for bidding companies...

How the Penticton Indian Band is handling wild horses

PENTICTON - Wild horses are becoming a greater problem in Penticton as they continue to wander off band land and onto highways, causing injury to themselves and drivers. But despite the need to remove hundreds of horses, the band chief says there will always be horses on their land.  There are over 600 horses on...

Who let the fish out? Penticton Indian Band opens hatchery

PENTICTON - The new sockeye salmon hatchery on the Okanagan River is a First Nations and salmon success story according to the Penticton Indian Band chief. The Penticton Indian Band held a ceremony for the grand opening of the hatchery Sunday. The Band has had a very successful salmon program for over a decade, and...

Skaha Hills Winery to release two labels in 2015

PENTICTON - Skaha Hills Winery is gearing up for this year’s harvest and will release its first batch of white wines next summer. The Winery will release two white labels in 2015, a Viognier, and a Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend. Red grapes harvested this year will be made into three red labels—a Merlot, Syrah,...

Penticton Indian Band wants fairness in financial transparency

PENTICTON - The Chief of the Penticton Indian Band says he doesn't mind releasing his band's financial statements so long as the federal government treats band politicians and government politicians equally in terms of salary and pensions. The band posted its audited financial statements for 2013-2014 on its official website Wednesday, allowing anyone to see...