Fort Liard resident Evangelina Fantasque said she was “dumbfounded” to come across the words “eight years of nothing” spray-painted across the exterior walls of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation office earlier this month.
Vehicles parked outside the office were also marked with the same words.
“Who would do that?” Fantasque asked.
She said she wasn’t sure what the graffiti was referencing until someone else pulled up behind her and mentioned the First Nation’s chief had been in the role for the past eight years.
Fantasque believes Chief Gene Hope, first elected in 2017, could be the target of the graffiti.
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In an email to Cabin Radio, ADKFN general manager Boyd Clark said Chief Hope wasn’t available to speak to the incident as he is attending Assembly of First Nations meetings in Halifax.
“The tagging of the building is considered an act of vandalism involving public property and is under active investigation by the RCMP,” Boyd wrote.
“While that investigation remains ongoing, the First Nation will not be providing additional statements.”
He clarified that the building is owned by the First Nation’s development corporation, ADK Holdings, and the vehicles that were spray-painted belong to Beaver Enterprises.
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Cpl Josh Seaward, an RCMP spokesperson, said an investigation is ongoing. No charges have been laid.
Fantasque said she isn’t sure what might have driven someone to such an act.
“If you go to any community, you’re going to find a fraction of the community that isn’t happy,” said Clark.
“The fact that the chief has been elected on his third term, and same with this council, speaks to [the fact that] the majority of the community are supportive and satisfied with his and the council’s leadership.”
