(xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) was disgusted and angered to learn of the stark demonstration of racialized hate apparently associated with the white nationalist and supremacist group “Second Sons” on Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc reserve lands on September 27, 2026, the anonymous cowards were seen holding a banner that said, “Got Bones?”, seemingly questioning the well documented existence of unmarked graves at the sites of former Indian Residential Schools. The FNLC stands with and supports Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc as they deal with the fallout of this despicable act, and call on Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby to join events hosted by Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The FNLC is alarmed with rising anti-First Nations racism and hate in British Columbia. These sentiments continue to be stoked by elected political leaders and candidates, both current and past, who have directly contributed to the demonization of First Nations and our rights. It is disingenuous in the extreme for these individuals to denounce our rights as a problem to be solved one day, and attempt to distance themselves from the inevitable consequences of their actions the next.
We call on all political parties in British Columbia to unequivocally denounce anti-First Nations racism and hate and make an unqualified commitment to uphold and cease politicizing the basic human and constitutionally protected rights of First Nations.
Regional Chief Terry Teegee, BC Assembly of First Nations:
“I call on Canada directly to urgently reform the Criminal Code, and acknowledge residential school denialism as hate speech. First Nations have been constantly signaling to Canada about the dangers of denialism and anti-First Nations violence. The consistent inaction of B.C. and Canada to acknowledge this major problem continues to threaten the safety of First Nations, and most importantly, residential school survivors. By not proactively addressing this ongoing behaviour, Canada and B.C. continue to undermine the human rights of First Nations, as legislatively recognized in the UN Declaration.”
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President:
“We must work together with all First Nations, governments, and the broader public to reject white supremacy, including against First Nations. I am calling for support as we head into National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th- I urge our supporters to not sit idly by, and instead to show up and participate in events First Nations are holding, and to wear orange shirts. We demand an investigation by the RCMP into what happened over the weekend, and to provide security for any First Nation requesting, and we reiterate our calls for BC and Canada to criminalize Indian Residential School denialism. This is a call to action. To Kukpi7 Casimir and the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation, we stand in complete solidarity with your community. Love is stronger than hate, and you are not alone.”
Robert Phillips, First Nations Summit Political Executive:
“This was not a peaceful protest, nor an act of free speech. This was an act based on hate, racism and residential school denialism. Groups like this cannot change our history or erase our reality. The harmful impacts of colonialism and the deeply damaging residential school system on First Nations citizens and communities is our truth. We must collectively stand together to denounce any groups like this who attempt to openly intimidate Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc or any other First Nation. There is simply no excuse for this abhorrent behaviour.”
The First Nations Leadership Council is comprised of the political executives of the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), First Nations Summit (FNS), and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).