On Sunday morning, September 27, a group of about 30 masked men arrived on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc land, days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. They came to frighten people. They hid their faces because they know this community, and this city, do not accept them.
To the survivors, families and people of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc: we see you, we believe you, and we stand with you. The truth of what happened to the children is not up for debate. The stories survivors have shared were hard enough to tell once, and no one should be made to defend them again.
As someone who has made my home on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory since 2016, I want to share how we can all help keep each other safe.
If you see this group or anything like it
Do not approach or confront them. Keep your distance and move somewhere safe.
If anyone is in danger, call 911.
If it is safe to do so, note the time, place, vehicles and licence plates, and take photos or video from a distance. Keep the originals.
Report it. On reserve land, call the Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP at 250-314-1800. In the city, call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000. Hate-motivated incidents can also be reported through the Kamloops RCMP online reporting tool, even when no crime was committed.
You can also share information with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network through antihate.ca.
How we stop this together
Please do not share their photos, masks, flags or symbols. That spreads their message for them and hurts the people who see it. Share the words of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc leadership instead.
Do not argue with deniers online. Report the posts and move on.
Wear orange on September 30, wherever you are, and let the survivors see how many of us stand beside them.
Write to your MLA, MP and city council and ask for action on hate and on residential school denialism.
Check in on your Indigenous friends, neighbours, colleagues and students. A simple message matters.
If this brings up pain for you
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line, 24 hours: 1-866-925-4419
KUU-US Crisis Line, for Indigenous people in BC: 1-800-588-8717
Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310, or chat at hopeforwellness.ca
Hate came here hiding its face. We answer with ours: open, together, and not afraid.
Every Child Matters. 🧡
Love. Care. Share.
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