Threat to topple totem poles possible hate crime
Police on the Sunshine Coast are searching for a person who strung up a banner, threatening to fell totem poles outside a high school.
According to the RCMP, a staff member at Pender Harbour Secondary found the banner sometime on Tuesday morning and called police. The fabric banner was strung up by all four corners between two totem poles and was emblazoned with a spray painted message threatening damage.
“Given the sensitive nature of this threat, police are working diligently to locate a suspect and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person in the surveillance video,” said Const. Jihan McDougall. “There is no tolerance for this type of behaviour and we will work very hard to find the person responsible.”
In an email on Thursday, McDougall said Sunshine Coast RCMP were being assisted by the RCMP’s hate crimes unit.
“We are examining evidence seized, including video,” said McDougall.
A post on a community Facebook group called Pender Harbour Uncut featured an image of the banner that was found Tuesday. The banner reads: “If u touch George/ Stanley/or John A, ur totem’s will start falling.”
The totem poles were created by Shíshálh master carver Arnold Jones, with one installed in 2017 and another in 2018. Students at the school were invited to observe and learn the craft of carving, while others were tasked with choosing which animals to include on the totem poles.
Coun. Selina August says the Shíshálh First Nation is thankful to the “countless British Columbians” ready to call out racism.
“While we woke up ... to hurtful news of racist incidents, we are also met with the love, support, and generosity of British Columbians from all walks of life who wish to see true reconciliation become the reality across this country,” August said in the statement.
Anyone with information about the banner or the individual pictured in surveillance images is asked to contact 604-885-2266.