Hate Group Targets Tk’emlúsps te Secwépemc Reserve in Kamloops
In a disturbing escalation of hate and intimidation, the community of Kamloops was shaken this past Sunday. Social media footage has captured a group of white nationalists staging a militaristic demonstration on the Tk’emlúsps te Secwépemc reserve, an act that has sparked outrage across British Columbia and the rest of Canada.
The images depict approximately 21 men dressed in black fatigues, combat boots, and ballcaps, their faces hidden behind white masks. The group, identified as members of Second Sons Canada, marched with black flags and draped a provocative banner over a Kamloops overpass that read, “got bones?”
A Community That Refuses to Be Intimidated
The target of this display was not random. The Tk’emlúsps te Secwépemc reserve is the heart of a community that has already endured unimaginable trauma. In a strong response, Chief Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir condemned the actions of the group, which is closely linked to white supremacist ideology.
“Individuals associated with Second Sons Canada… have been seen and documented within our community. We will not be intimidated,” stated Chief Casimir.
The Dark History and the Fight Against Denialism
The offensive nature of the “got bones?” banner is a direct attack on the painful history of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Five years ago, the world was shocked when ground-penetrating radar identified more than 200 suspected unmarked graves at the site.
This discovery ignited a national conversation about the genocide perpetrated by the Canadian residential school system, as documented by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. However, it also emboldened skeptics and denialists.
Eddy Charlie, a survivor of the Kuper Island Residential School and member of the Cowichan Nation, expressed the heartbreak of seeing these events: “People are denying that bad things happened in the world and it’s right there in front of everyone. We all know that children were dying in there, that children were being raped in there.”
Political Leaders Condemn the “Cowardly Act”
The reaction from Canadian political leaders was swift and unanimous in its disgust. The demonstration occurred just days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time dedicated to honouring the children who never returned home.
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- David Eby (BC NDP Leader): Called the behaviour “disgraceful” and “disgusting,” noting the clear intent to instill fear.
- Lorne Doerkson (BC Conservatives Leader): Described the gathering as “appalling” and called for law enforcement to ensure such events do not recur.
- Emily Lowan (BC Green Party Leader): Highlighted a “concerning trend” and urged the government to implement rigorous public education to combat hate.
- Prime Minister: Labeled the march a “cowardly act” that is “abhorrent” and has no place in Canada.
Ongoing Investigation
The Kamloops RCMP is currently investigating the incident. Superintendent Jeff Pelley described the march as a “cowardly attempt to avoid accountability” and a deliberate effort to provoke division and fear within the province.
As Kamloops continues to heal from the scars of the past, the community stands resilient against those who seek to erase history or mock the suffering of Indigenous peoples.
