Non-Indigenous residents of Ontario city terrified after SKODEN message appears on water tower

A giant spray-painted message that simply reads SKODEN has appeared on a water tower in Sudbury, Ont., leaving non-Indigenous residents terrified.

“I just know those Indigenouses [sic] are behind this,” said Peter Model, who glared suspiciously at the message from his front yard. “If you ask me, it means they are planning some sort of uprising.”

In another part of the city, Joan Chamber echoed those fears.

“Bunch of Native people were laughing their heads off and shouting ‘stoodis’ when they saw it,” Chamber said. “I don’t understand it but it’s scary and it just sounds offensive.”

A spokesperson from Ontario police urged residents to be calm and said the force has requested extra resources from the province for what is estimated to be the largest investigation in the city’s history.