On April 29, Indigenous communities across northern British Columbia united in an extraordinary show of strength, solidarity, and sorrow following the tragic death of 32-year-old Luke Pearson in Skidegate.
After the man charged with second-degree murder was taken into custody, members of the Haida Nation asked the accused’s family to leave the islands. Their departure triggered a wave of peaceful action and cultural resistance across the region — a collective stand against violence, drugs, and the ongoing trauma faced by Indigenous communities.
As the ferry carrying the family arrived in Prince Rupert, supporters gathered along the highway, drumming, singing, and lifting their voices in unity. In Kitsumkalum, Tempo Gas temporarily closed, posting a message citing public safety concerns. At the memorial pole near the community’s entrance, drumming and song echoed through the evening, continuing along the roads as the family passed through.
From there, the wave of support spread across the Northwest. Community members gathered in Kitselas at Gitaus, Kitwanga, Gitsegukla, Hazelton, and Witset, and by 10:30 p.m., the town of Houston had joined. In each place, drums rang out, voices rose in song, and signs bearing the messages “Justice for Luke” and “In Solidarity with Haida Gwaii” lined the roads and gathering spaces.
This movement is about more than a single tragic loss. It is a collective outcry — against violence, against the drug crisis, and against the systems that have failed Indigenous people for generations. Through profound grief, these communities are reclaiming their power and standing up to protect one another.
April 29 will be remembered not just for heartbreak, but for the sounds of resistance — the drums, the singing, and the united voices of Nations across the land declaring:
We protect our own. We stand with Haida Gwaii. Justice for Luke.
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