HAIDA GWAII – In the days since the death of 32-year-old Luke Pearson, now ruled a homicide, the community has come together in an extraordinary display of grief, unity and response.
On April 25, Gwaalagaa Naay Corporation, a Skidegate-based development company owned by the Skidegate Band Council, announced the banishment of eight individuals, including family members and associates of Tyson Young, who has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Luke Pearson’s death, from their establishments.
The group has been the subject of persistent community concern due to alleged ongoing illegal activity and their ties to Young. More than 150 local businesses and services followed suit, barring the individuals from their premises. That same day, a peaceful protest was held outside a church adjacent to the homes of the accused’s family and associates.
Amid rising tensions, the Skidegate Band Council ordered the demolition of four of the five homes occupied by the family and associates of the accused. The four homes had been purchased from the families by the band, who agreed to leave the island. The fifth home, which remains privately owned, will be addressed at a later time.
Skidegate Homes Demolished: A Community Response
On April 29, RCMP officers escorted the accused’s family and associates from Skidegate. At the ferry terminal, Skidegate Band Chief Councillor Billy Yovanovich told the crowd, “We have ownership of the four homes today, and we’ll deal with two of them now and the rest in due time. This is one big hurdle. Then we can begin the healing.”
Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, president of the Council of the Haida Nation, addressed the community. “Stay focused on holding each other up and focus on the goodness of Luke,” he said.
While the family and associates were en route to Prince Rupert, the planned demolition of two homes began in Skidegate. Community members gathered beforehand for a ceremony that included a prayer led by GwaaGanad Diane Brown and further remarks from Gaagwiis and Yovanovich.
“We move from that fear and that anger, and move through that together. From here, we focus on that collective healing. We learn and understand to make sure this never happens again,” said Gaagwiis. “We’ve got to take one step at a time, hold each other up, find that love again, and come back from the darkness. Remember the love. Remember Luke,” he said.
In a symbolic act of closure and defiance, those gathered threw rocks through the windows of the empty homes and a car that had been left behind.
The demolition itself followed Gaagwiis’s speech. Yovanovich climbed into one of the excavators to begin tearing down the first house, while a second machine simultaneously took down the other.
Protests Meet Family & Associates Along Their Travels
Once the ferry landed in Prince Rupert, the family and associates were met by peaceful protesters from the #JusticeForLuke movement. Demonstrations continued in each community along Highway 16 as they travelled eastward. A police escort has accompanied them through the different communities since they departed from Skidegate.
At a gas station in Prince Rupert, one family member had a brief confrontation with protesters, who shouted for them to leave the territory. RCMP officers were on scene and escorted the individual inside to pay for fuel.
In Kitsumkalum, Tempo Gas temporarily closed its doors, citing public safety concerns in a posted message. At the memorial pole near the community’s entrance, drumming and singing echoed into the evening, continuing along the roads as the family passed through.
Meanwhile, online awareness campaigns have surged across Facebook, with multiple groups sharing real-time updates, livestreams, and photos tracking the family’s movements through northern B.C.
While tensions remain high, community leaders and residents consistently emphasize peace and unity. The actions taken by Skidegate leadership and residents reflect not only deep mourning for Luke Pearson but also a strong collective stand against violence.
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