Suspect turns himself in after racist incident on First Nation near Port Alberni, B.C. - Action News
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British Columbia

Suspect turns himself in after racist incident on First Nation near Port Alberni, B.C.

A video capturing a group of people shouting racial slurs while driving late at night through the Tseshaht First Nation's reserve in Port Alberni was shared and condemned on social media.

Video shows group of people shouting racial slurs while they drive through the Tseshaht First Nation's reserve

RCMP are investigating after a video circulating on social media showed people in this truck shouting racial slurs as they drove through the Tsehshat First Nation reserve late Monday night outside Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. (Cynthia Dick/Facebook)

UPDATE June 8, 2020: Asuspect in the racist incident turned himselfin to Port Alberni RCMPon Thursday, the detachment said in a statement. The Qualicum, B.C., man was arrested and "has cooperated with the investigation." He was released from custody on the condition hestayaway from the Tseshaht First Nationand its residents. Acourt date has yet to be determined.

EARLIER STORY:

RCMP are investigating after a video showing a group of peoplewhooping and yelling racial slurs as they drive through the Tseshaht First Nation late Monday night was shared on social media.

"I know that they're taking it seriously. They've indicated to us that they believe they will be able to find the people and I know, I think Facebook is going to find them as well," said MayorSharie Minions of the Vancouver Island city.

Minions said she first saw the story and pictures of the truck being shared by her friend and colleague Cynthia Dick, achief councillorof the nearbyTseshaht First Nation.

"I thought right away, 'oh no' seeing this kind of thing happening in our community. I think we're aware this kind of thing goes on, but you still hate to see it coming forward," she said

Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions says police are trying to track down the occupants of the truck. (Justin McElroy/CBC)

"And think how would I feel waking up in the middle of the night with my kids and having to listen to that and how hurtful would that be."

Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Counci located in Port Albernil, said the video left her "totally disgusted and dismayed."

"You need to feel safe in your own home and your own community and to have that kind of actions right in your own street, it's devastating to a lot of people and makes a lot of people angry as well," Sayers said.

As part of its reconcilation plans, the City of Port Alberni named a new street in 2019 in honour of the Indigenous village that used to sit in the same place. Nuupts' Ikapis means "one tree on the beach" in the Nuu-chah-nulth language. (City of Port Alberni)

Sayers said she would like RCMP to find out who did it and that there may be possible charges in future. She added she hopes anyone who recognizes the truck will come forward.

She said there could also be a teachable moment.

"Whether there's charges or whether that person is brought into the community and talked to elders, by leaders, by the people, how it made them feel, I don't know if that would ever change someone with deeply engrained racist tendencies, but you got to start somewhere."

With files from All Points West