BC Nurses' Union Condemns White Nationalist Gathering at Tk’emlups te Secwepemc

The BC Nurses’ Union strongly condemns the abhorrent white nationalist gathering that took place Sept. 27 on the lands of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, east of Kamloops.

The organized gathering of members of the white supremacist group Seconds Sons of Canada is deeply disturbing. The intimidation and hatred this cowardly group displayed has no place in British Columbia or Canada and is particularly distressing as the country prepares to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

We express our solidarity with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, their families and the entire community in rejecting racism, hate and attempts to instill fear. As health-care professionals, we all have a responsibility to confront racism and advance cultural safety in health care and our local communities.  

 BCNU remains committed to advancing reconciliation and upholding the principles of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). This includes advancing the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, which call on governments and health-care systems to acknowledge the harms of colonialism, address health inequities and support culturally appropriate health services.

There is no place for white supremacy, racism or hate in our communities, our workplaces or our health-care system. We will continue to express solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and support the ongoing work to advance truth and reconciliation, address Indigenous-specific racism, and ensure culturally safe, equitable health care for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples in BC.