‘Motivated by hate. It’s disgusting’: Penticton Indian Band signs defaced with racist graffiti

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Several signs on Penticton Indian Band (PIB) lands have recently been defaced with racist graffiti, prompting condemnation from community members.

According to the GDP, signs along Green Mountain Road, noting that a person has entered GDP territory and which set out rules for activity, were defaced with racist words and hate symbols.

This shocked me a bit, but then it started turning into a lot of anger. I have zero tolerance for this kind of racist and disgusting activity. I’m still angry, GDP chief Greg Gabriel said.

There is anger in our community and that is what is troubling. I know this will stay in our community for many years to come.

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The vandalized signs have been replaced, but Chief Gabriel says it’s more than property damage.

I have lived with this kind of ugliness all my life and I work very hard to try to keep this kind of hurtful bigotry and racism away from my children, my grandchildren and all of our children, said Chief Gabriel.

It has an impact on them and it has an impact on our young people, our elders, and it will stay with us. Anger, I think, will never go away.

The Penticton Band Council held a special council meeting on Monday after learning of the vandalism. The GDP called on all local governments to take a stand against the law.

I think it’s very important, critical that all leaders, no matter who they are, have to say that. In my mind, this is a hate crime and it should be treated as such, Chief Gabriel said.

Sending a unified message is so important to all of us that it will not be tolerated and it is not acceptable.

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Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said the city stands with Chief Gabriel and GDP.

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When I first saw the pictures I was quite shocked by them and it is a despicable act. It is certainly far from being representative, even of a small part of the population of Penticton. I immediately found Chief Gabriel and offered him our support and let him know we stood by his side, Bloomfield said.

It cemented and strengthened our resolve to have a real truth and reconciliation process with the Penticton Indian Band.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) echoed that these actions do not represent the community.

The actions of this individual do not represent the Regional District or the City of Penticton. We do not support this action against our neighbours, we are good neighbors and that is not what good neighbors do, said RDOS Regional Director Subrina Monteith.

Meanwhile, Penticton RCMP Superintendent Brian Hunter said police across the region are aware of the incidents and an investigation is underway.

This is 100% a crime that has been committed and a hate crime. It’s disgusting and the accountability that will arise once we identify these people will depend on the community, the police and our justice system on how best to perceive them, Hunter said.

This is about the hurt that has happened in the community and how best to resolve that hurt and start the healing process and I will work with Chief Gabriel on this.

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Hunter went on to say that anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the RCMP.

I’m counting on the community to help me and our detachment and help the Penticton Indian Band community come forward and let us know who this person or people are,” Hunter said.

It is really important that when we find out who they are, we have serious discussions with them – there is an urgent need for education, for denouncing these activities. And I want to use this as an opportunity, not just for this incident, but for the health of our communities and by working together as Chief Gabriel says, we are all united on the same page.

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