Residents of Redwood Meadows, in an attempt to preserve their relationship with the Tsuu T’ina band, have created an online petition decrying the destruction of a Tsuu T’ina flag at the townsite last month.
The flag was lowered from the pole in front of the townsite’s offices, shredded and dumped in front of Mayor John Welsh’s home in the early morning hours of Dec. 30.
The petition is available to be signed at redwoodmeadows.ab.ca. or in person at Redwood House.
A reward offered by the townsite for information leading to prosecution that was originally set at $500 has grown to more than $1,000. Some residents of the community are adding to the fund with private contributions.
“Redwood Meadows has demonstrated the type of place it is by standing up as a community against bigotry and hatred,” Welsh said.
“In less than a week, over 70 per cent of the population has signed the online or regular petition, and the reward has more than doubled.”
A person of interest has been identified but they had not been interviewed by police as of Jan. 8.
That person is not believed to be a resident of Redwood Meadows or Tsuu T’ina.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Cochrane RCMP Cpl. Gary Fedrau told the Eagle.
“We are attempting to determine what exactly happened and are trying to track down the people believed responsible.”
Anyone with information can call 403-949-3563. Information received will be kept confidential.
The flag was raised in a ceremony Oct. 14 as a symbol of the friendship between residents of the community and the band. Redwood Meadows is on land leased from Tsuu T’ina.
A new flag will be put up shortly and the area will be monitored by a video camera, Welsh said last week.
Police are looking into a possible connection between the destruction of the flag and intentional plugging of the sewage line from Redwood Meadows in July 2012. Human waste was diverted into the forest near the Elbow River, which supplies part of Calgary’s drinking water.
Cochrane RCMP is working with Tsuu T’ina police on investigating that possible link, Fedrau said.
