TK’EMLÚPS TE SECWÉPEMC — There has been swift condemnation after several masked individuals allegedly associated with a white nationalist group were spotted on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve on Sunday (Sept. 27) morning, and there are calls for the federal government to get involved.
The group of 20 to 30 people sported black clothes and hats along with white face coverings, with some carrying flags. Logos on some outfits appeared to match that of Second Sons Canada – a men’s only white nationalist group.
While that’s not been confirmed, their actions are being denounced.
“Our people are upset and they have every right to be very upset,” Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkwpi7 Rosanne Casimir said. “This is like a hate crime. This is disturbing especially coming just before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.”
Casimir said the group was asked to, but they did not leave the reserve until the RCMP arrived on scene. Police confirmed that account in a statement Monday (Sept. 28), saying the group dispersed once officers spoke with them.
The demonstrations, however, weren’t done as a number of masked individuals were later seen holding a banner with the phrase “Got Bones?” at the Pacific Way overpass, an apparent reference to Tk’emlúps’ 2021 confirmation via ground-penetrating radar of more than 200 suspected children’s graves near the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
“Our survivors, you know they faced and overcame a lot of different challenges and to have this come forth is very disturbing,” Casimir said. “It’s showing discrimination, it’s showing injustice, it’s showing racism.”
Terry Teegee, the Regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, said well over 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were forced to attend government-funded, church-run Residential Schools in Canada.
“[They] felt the harms of residential schools and some of them didn’t make it home,” Teegee said. “And some of them are in graves near some of these residential schools.”
“We know for sure that there are thousands that didn’t make it home and it was because of the residential school policy which is recognized under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as cultural genocide.”
Kamloops and Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley called the banner with the words ‘Got Bones,’ and the use of masks a “cowardly attempt to avoid accountability” for actions that “are clearly intended to intimidate, provoke fear and division.”
“The RCMP is taking this matter seriously and will continue to engage the group as part of our response and current ongoing investigation,” Pelley said in the statement. “The RCMP’s position on this type of messaging is clear, and such and we will continue to ensure that all offences are thoroughly investigated to support potential prosecution.”
Pelley also urged people with information, photos or video of Sunday’s incident, or knowledge of future gatherings to contact the RCMP and reference file 2026-32566.
“It’s really important to denounce the actions of this hate group and I think it’s really important to stand with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc,” Teegee added.
The City of Kamloops, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Kamloops-Thompson School District are among local organizations that have all issued statements condemning Sunday’s events.
Numerous politicians have also issued statements condemning the incident, including Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola MP Frank Caputo, who told the gathering of people to “Screw off. Go home. Never come back. Reflect on your poor decisions.”
Both NDP leader David Eby and B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson also condemned Sunday’s gathering, describing the incident as hateful and intimidating. BC Greens leader Emily Lowan and Centre BC leader Elenore Sturko also issued similar statements of condemnation.
Federal Action Is Needed
The B.C. Assembly of First Nations is also calling on the federal government to criminalize residential school denialism as a hate crime under Bill C-9, which was passed in response to rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other hate-motivated actions.
“I think it’s really important to also include residential school denialism,” Teegee said. “This is certainly, in our determination, a part of that.”
The Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS) also called Sunday’s incidents “hateful and deeply disturbing,” and it also wants the federal government to address residential school denialism.
“Residential school denialism dismisses and distorts the experiences survivors have shared for generations,” a statement from KAFS said. “When that denialism is used alongside white nationalist activity and intimidation directed at Indigenous people, it must be taken seriously.”
KAFS noted this weekend’s incident “has particular significance” as it works closely with Indigenous people and families across the Kamloops-area, many of whom have a connection to the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
“The people affected by what happened this weekend are people KAFS works with, cares about and has a responsibility to speak alongside,” the statement said, as it also called on businesses, institutions, community organizations and elected officials to publicly challenge racism, white supremacy and residential school denialism.
“Allyship has to extend beyond September 30 and beyond wearing an orange shirt. It includes speaking up when Indigenous people are targeted and making it clear that this behaviour is not accepted.”
Meanwhile, Casimir said Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc will not be intimidated, adding Wednesday’s events for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will go ahead as planned, but with added security.
“That day will be advancing,” Casimir said. “That day is far too important to be taken over by those that have other agendas.”
by Victor Kaisar