On Sept. 27 a group of approximately 20-30 men went to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve, with RCMP confirming their intention to intimidate. Hiding their identities by wearing white balaclavas and black baseball caps, they were seen near Chief Eli Larue Way east of Kamloops, with flags and a banner headed with “got bones.” They were dressed in attire associated with the white nationalist group Second Sons Canada, and only retreated after RCMP came.
Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir issued a statement warning members of the community to be wary, protect each other, and report any suspicious activity to the RCMP. However, Casimir also made it clear that the white supremacist group cannot prevent the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc from honoring the survivors of Residential schools, and remembering the children who never returned.
“The presence of individuals associated with white supremacist ideology on Tk?emlúps lands will not deter Tk?emlúps te Secwépemc, Indian Residential School Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, or their families from continuing to share the truth, honour the children, and advance the work of truth, accountability, and reconciliation.”
Below the statement, multiple resources were listed for those experiencing harm related to this incident.
With files from CBC.
