The Lower Kootenay Band is publicly opposing a town hall scheduled for Thursday in Creston and hosted by OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie, citing concerns about residential school denialism and anti-Indigenous rhetoric.
Jason Louie, Nasuʔkin (chief) of Yaqan Nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay Band), said the community’s concerns stem from Brodie’s public statements and online videos questioning claims surrounding unmarked graves at former residential school sites.
“Her videos and rhetoric speak for itself. We have a number of residential school survivors. Nobody on this planet can deny what happened in these residential schools. It’s pretty obvious. It’s outright disrespectful. It’s hate speech.”
The Ktunaxa Nation governments echoed those concerns in a statement issued this week calling on Brodie to resign from the B.C. Legislature and saying she is not welcome in Ktunaxa territory.
“We condemn residential school denialism and the divisive hateful statements made by MLA Dallas Brodie,” said ʔaq̓am Nasuʔkin Cheryl Casimer.
“Brodie is not welcome in ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa, specifically in Yaqan Nuʔkiy where she is scheduled to host a town hall. We call upon our allies to join us in stopping this nonsense from taking place. It’s harmful, disrespectful and unacceptable.”
The statement said Ktunaxa peoples continue to live with the trauma caused by residential schools and that Brodie’s rhetoric perpetuates the “pain and suffering of families still mourning the loss of children who were forcibly removed and did not return home from residential school.”
In response to Brodie’s visit, the Lower Kootenay Band and its allies are organizing a rally titled Rally for Peace, Justice and Belonging on Feb. 12. Louie said the demonstration will be peaceful and non-violent.
“The message of the rally is that Indigenous people are still here. The residential school era did happen, and there is an aftermath of that residential schools.”
He added that organizers are working closely with the RCMP to ensure safety, including traffic control measures along the highway near the event.
“We have been working with the RCMP from the moment we started planning this protest, this resistance,” said Louie.
“We are going to be not on the property, but we will be on the highway. The police are closing the highway to a single lane traffic, and we’re going to be a safe distance from them and they’re going to be a safe distance from us.”
Louie acknowledged safety concerns circulating about the protest, including calls for first aid supplies, and said that while the intent is peaceful, preparation is key.
“There’s always the possibility with any protests and anytime that there are any minority groups, marginalized groups, that there is always that possibility it could turn non-peaceful,” he said.
“It’s all about coming prepared. We also have nurses on hand if need be. And the RCMP also has their trained medics on hand. So hopefully we don’t need it. But if we do, we’re prepared for any incidents that might arise.”
Louie said the broader goal is visibility and solidarity.
“As far as the outcome goes, we’re going to be heard, we’re going to be seen, and we’re going to keep resisting.”
Brodie has denied dismissing the existence of residential schools or the harm they caused, saying her comments have focused on the need for evidence-based discussions about unmarked graves.
She has described opposition to her events as “censorship” and said disagreement is a fundamental part of politics.
Despite that, Louie said the situation has strained relationships with local businesses willing to host the event.
Brodie previously said the location of her town hall would not be disclosed to the public, after several local venues, including one owned by the regional district, refused to accept the booking.
However, rally organizers now believe its scheduled at the local hotel. Louie said it’s unfortunate the hotel chose to accept the booking, noting the Lower Kootenay Band has done business there before.
“The Lower Kootenay Band has been very generous with our buisness to the establishment. For example the powwow weekend, that weekend alone in May we spend upward of $10,000 lodging our guests there throughout the year.”
But now that relationship is done, said Louie.
“We’re moving on. We’re going to bring our business elsewhere. We’re going to be treated with dignity and respect. But it’s just unfortunate that that establishment has chosen to go this route when the solution is simple. Just say you’re not available, the venue is not available.”
He added that it was unfortunate there was even a need for a rally, questioning why Brodie was coming to the valley.
“What the so-called town hall is doing is denying it [the aftermath of residential schools] and it’s outright hate speech. It’s rhetoric that is false. And there’s a huge difference between freedom of expression and hate speech,” said Louie.
“It’s just unfortunate that in 2026 that we’re even having to do this. We have an MLA for this riding. And why Dallas Brodie is here is beyond me when her riding is Kitsilano or wherever it is.”
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