Police issued a statement Monday afternoon detailing their intention to investigate an apparent white nationalist demonstration at Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc native reserve near Kamloops, B.C.
Video posted by journalist Brandi Morin via an anonymous source shows people wearing white masks and black clothing bearing patches matching those of the Second Sons, a white nationalist group.
The Second Sons “see violence as necessary and inevitable to defend their movement, attack their opposition, and ethnically cleanse Canada,” according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.
The group was seen displaying a sign on an overpass that appeared to question the existence of children’s remains at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Supt. Jeff Pelley said officers were called to an area near Chief Eli Larue Way around 7:25 a.m. with reports of the group’s presence, and “engaged immediately with the group” before the demonstrators left the area and continued through various parts of the city.
“The posting of a banner bearing the words ‘got bones,’ combined with the use of masks to conceal their identities while making such public statements, is a cowardly attempt to avoid accountability for actions and messages that are clearly intended to intimidate, provoke fear and division,” he wrote.
“The RCMP is taking this matter seriously and will continue to engage the group as part of our response and current ongoing investigation … we will continue to ensure that all offences are thoroughly investigated to support potential prosecution.”
Police have asked anyone with photos or videos of the demonstration, or knowledge of future demonstrations, to contact the Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Detachment at 250-314-1800 or the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and cite file 2026-32566 or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
‘Our people have the right to feel safe’: Chief’s response
In a statement issued Sunday evening, the chief of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc called the presence of individuals associated with white supremacist and white nationalist activity “deeply concerning” and said it was “being taken seriously by chief and council.”
“We recognize the fear, anger, and concern this may create for our members, Survivors, families, and staff. We hear those concerns, and we are taking action,” Kúkwpi7 Rosanne Casimir said.
“The safety and well-being of our members is our priority. Our people have the right to feel safe in their homes, in our community spaces and throughout our community.”
Casimir asked those living in the area to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, report any further activity to RCMP, and to keep a safe distance from any other demonstrations.
Further, she called on both the provincial and federal government to “uphold responsibilities and take meaningful action to combat racism, white supremacist activity, hate-motivated conduct, and efforts to deny or distort the truth of the Indian Residential School system.”
“Reconciliation requires more than words. It requires ongoing action to ensure Indigenous peoples can live safely and free from intimidation,” she said.
Condemned actions
In a post on X, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the demonstration both cowardly and abhorrent, and said it had “no place in this country.”
“My thoughts are with everyone who are shaken and hurt by this disgusting display of hate,” he said.
NDP Leader David Eby, speaking with the media before a flight to Prince Rupert, said the demonstration was “just disgraceful, disgusting behaviour.”
“It’s very clear that these people were trying to intimidate, were trying to make these people fearful. I take some comfort in the fact that they felt they had to wear masks and hide their identity, that they know that the retribution would be severe and instant if they showed who they are,” he said.
B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson said the gathering had no place in the province and stressed that his party condemned it completely.
“We stand with the people of Tk’emlúps, and we expect the RCMP to investigate fully,” he wrote, in a post on X.
B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan said she stands “with Indigenous communities and all marginalized communities in the fight for a future free from racist intimidation.”
“I am disgusted by the appearance of white nationalists on the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc reserve. This is happening just days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” she wrote.
The Heiltsuk Tribal Council released a statement on Monday afternoon welcoming condemnations from political party leaders but detailing that events like this “are a reminder that we must all do more to combat anti-Indigenous racism.”
“It starts with words, but it must be followed by action,” the statement reads.
“We and our parents have faced discrimination throughout our lives, both subtle and not so subtle, like being taken away from our families, and being sent to Indian Residential Schools. This history is not that long ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with our relatives at Tkʼemlúps.”
