The Princeton RCMP have released a photo that shows a suspect in the theft of a carved wooden statue of a mountain goat outsidethe cu蕯c蕯wixa蕯 (Chuchuwayha) Hall in Hedley.
The theft occurred at about 2 a.m. on July 8, based on the surveillance footage from the hall. The hall is located adjacent to Highway 3 as it passes through the community of Hedley.
According to the RCMP, the footage shows two suspects arriving in an older-model Ford F-150 pick-up truck towing a wooden cargo trailer.
The truck is described as dark blue or black, maybe a 2009-14 model, with the 鈥淴TR鈥� trim package and chrome wheels.
鈥淭his carving carries great cultural and sentimental importance for the Upper Similkameen community,鈥� Cpl. Scott McDiarmid of Princeton RCMP said. 鈥淲e're asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in Hedley during the early morning hours of July 8, or who recognizes the vehicle and/or suspect, to contact us.鈥�
The statue, carved out of a tree trunk, is quite large and weighs a substantial amount.
"The wooden carving of sx虒史茮始i蕯 (Mountain Goat) has significant cultural and sentimental value to the sm蓹lqm铆x because of its history with our people, our lands, and our neighbours," the Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB) stated in a press release.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Princeton RCMP at 250-295-6911 and quote file 2025-1002.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the South Okanagan-Similkameen CrimeStoppers to provide the information at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
The LSIB stated that people with information can also contact the Upper Similkameen Band office at 250-292-8733.
