B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister denounces racist graffiti on Treaty 8 building

Exterior of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association in Fort St. John. (Jeff Cunha, CJDC-TV)

British Columbia’s Indigenous relations minister is condemning “racist vandalism” of a Treaty 8 Tribal Association office in Fort St. John last weekend.

Christine Boyle says it is important to stand against acts of hate, adding that Treaty 8 is a “critical part of B.C.‘s work to advance reconciliation.”

Videos from local media show swastikas and profanities spray painted on the walls of the First Nation building in the city.

Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen called the vandalism “unacceptable” in a statement posted to social media, saying it goes against the values upheld in the community.

Jewish human rights group B’nai Brith Canada says it showcases how the swastika is being used against a variety of racialized groups, and it calls for a national ban on the public display of the emblem of the Nazi Party.

That group says that when Nazi swastikas appear on streets, buildings and in our communities, they send a message that runs counter to everything Canada stands for.

“The recent use of the Nazi swastika to deface the Treaty 8 Tribal Association building in Fort St. John, B.C., is yet another stark reminder that the Nazi swastika represents the worst of society,” the group says in a post to X.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2025.

The Canadian Press