Community Outraged by Racist Vandalism in Fort St. John

WARNING: This story contains profanity and details and images of swastikas.

Marlene Roy, the executive director of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association in Fort St. John, was shocked and horrified when she received pictures of swastikas and profanities spray painted onto the building where her office is located. The incident took place on a Sunday after she had just finished up meetings at work.

The graffiti, which included swastikas and offensive language, was a disturbing sight for Roy. She expressed her dismay, stating, “It’s upsetting that there’s still that kind of mindset around.”

As staff worked to clean up the graffiti, Roy mentioned that a passerby shouted “Heil Hitler,” further emphasizing the hateful nature of the vandalism.

The incident has been reported to the RCMP, and it has sparked outrage and condemnation from various officials and organizations. British Columbia’s Indigenous relations minister, Christine Boyle, denounced the graffiti as “racist vandalism” and stressed the importance of standing against acts of hate.

Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen also condemned the vandalism, calling it “unacceptable” and stating that it goes against the community’s values.

Jewish human rights group B’nai Brith Canada weighed in on the issue, highlighting the use of the swastika as a symbol of hate and advocating for a national ban on its public display.

Roy, who has encountered anti-Indigenous sentiments in her community before, emphasized the need to speak out against racism and educate others about different cultures and histories.

Despite the troubling incident, Roy has been heartened by the outpouring of support from the community. People have reached out with messages of solidarity and offers to paint murals on the building to deter future acts of vandalism.

“People need to speak up and be heard,” Roy emphasized. “It’s just BS, you know?”