A Treaty 8 Tribal Association building in Fort St. John was defaced with racist graffiti, sparking condemnation from Indigenous leaders and local officials. The spray-painted message, scrawled beneath an 香蕉视频直播淓very Child Matters香蕉视频直播� banner, read 香蕉视频直播淔--- ur kids,香蕉视频直播� with swastikas on either side.
Shona Nelson, Band Manager at Doig River First Nation and a Treaty 8 member, shared the incident on LinkedIn, saying the vandalism underscores the persistence of anti-Indigenous racism. 香蕉视频直播淩acism [is] alive and well in our community, and no political will exists from government officials to stand up against racism and extremism,香蕉视频直播� she wrote. 香蕉视频直播淎pparently, freedom of expression only applies when you are hate-mongering and giving voice to violence by the 香蕉视频直播榝ar right and far out.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
The Treaty 8 Tribal Association represents six First Nations in northeastern B.C., encompassing Sicannie (Sikanni), Slavey, Beaver (Dane-Zaa), Cree, and Saulteau linguistic groups.
The act was met with swift condemnation from local and provincial officials. Jordan Kealy, Conservative MLA for Peace River North, called it a 香蕉视频直播渄isappointing attack香蕉视频直播� on the community in a Facebook post.
香蕉视频直播淭hese acts of racism and violence against members of our community take away from who we really are and the future we are all striving for. Hate fuels division,香蕉视频直播� he wrote.
Kealy urged residents to reject hatred, saying, 香蕉视频直播淲e need to do better. And that starts by lifting each other up, not tearing others down. I hope our community can be the great place we know it CAN be, where people can be proud to call the North Peace home, and everyone in it our neighbours.香蕉视频直播�
Fort St. John Mayor also denounced the vandalism, expressing 香蕉视频直播渄eep sadness and disappointment香蕉视频直播� on behalf of the city council.
香蕉视频直播淭his unacceptable act goes against the values of respect, inclusion, and unity we strive to uphold in our community,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭here is no place for hate in our city. These actions seek to divide us, incite fear, and negate the progress we have made in building relationships with Indigenous communities.香蕉视频直播�
He reaffirmed the city香蕉视频直播檚 solidarity with the Treaty 8 Tribal Association, stating, 香蕉视频直播淲e must all work together to ensure that Fort St. John is a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. Acts of hate will not define us; our response to them will.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭o those responsible, your actions do not represent who we are as a community, and we trust that you will be held accountable.香蕉视频直播�
Christine Boyle, B.C.'s Indigenous relations minister also condemned the vandalism, saying that Treaty 8 is a "critical part of B.C.'s work to advance reconciliation."
Meanwhile, Jewish human rights group B香蕉视频直播檔ai Brith Canada says the graffiti showcases how the swastika is being used against a variety of racialized groups, and it calls for a national ban on the public display of the emblem of the Nazi Party.
Black Press Media has reached out to the Treaty 8 Tribal Association and local RCMP detachment for comment.
- With files from The Canadian Press
