The Fort St. John RCMP responded to a mischief report at the Treaty 8 Tribal Association building on the 10200 block of 100th Avenue on February 16.
Photo of racist graffiti on the side of Treaty 8 building in Fort St. John
It appeared that during the overnight hours, an exterior wall of the building was vandalized with two swastikas and an offensive message spray-painted onto it, which has since been covered.
“The Fort St John RCMP is investigating this file as a hate crime,” said Staff Sergeant, Scott Watson, Acting Detachment Commander at the time. “Our frontline police officers are in the process of obtaining any available video surveillance from surrounding businesses to assist with timelines and trying to identify potential suspects.”
The Mayor of Fort St. John Lilia Hansen released a statement to the public on February 18, regarding the vandalism and addressing racism in the North Peace.
“It is with deep sadness and disappointment that I address our community today, on behalf of Fort St. John City Council, regarding the recent defacing of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association building with racist graffiti. This unacceptable act goes against the values of respect, inclusion, and unity we strive to uphold in our community,” said Hansen.
“There 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. The City of Fort St. John strongly condemns this act of racism and every form of discrimination.”
More than 2000 hate crimes were reported nationwide in the first six months of 2024, according to preliminary data from statistics Canada, with the largest proportion targeting a race or ethnicity at 48%.
Hate crimes targeting religion made up 29% of the reports while those targeting sexual orientation being 13%.
“The Treaty 8 Tribal Association represents the rich history, culture, and contributions of First Nations people in our region. We stand in full solidarity with the Treaty 8 Tribal Association and all Indigenous peoples,” said Hansen.
“We 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. This is an opportunity for us to speak out against racism and reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity.”
The Fort St. John RCMP are actively investigating and urge anyone with information related to this incident to reach out at 250-787-8100.
For those who prefer to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.
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