The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating racist and violent social media comments directed at Indigenous hunters in Niagara to determine if they break hate crime or other laws, The Standard has learned.

The OPP decided Wednesday to look into the Facebook comments posted on the page of the Niagara Action for Animals that directed racist slurs at hunters taking part in the annual deer hunt at Short Hills Provincial Park. Some of the comments also called for the deaths of the hunters, asking them to kill themselves, shoot each other or for them to be murdered.

No charges have been laid at this point.

Organizers of the anti-hunt groups asked those who posted the violent and bigoted comments — some of which referred to Indigenous people as "drunks" and "barbarians" — to joint a protest at Short Hills on Nov. 14.

The comments, first reported by The Standard Tuesday, also drew pointed criticism from local politicians, including St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik.

"We like to say that there is no room in our city for this kind of language, but in reality, what this story shows is that there are people who believe in racist, hateful stereotypes against Indigenous people — and people of all backgrounds in our community," said Sendzik in a statement issued Wednesday morning.

Sendzik said the treaty rights that allow the deer hunt should be respected.

"In St. Catharines, we have also recognized that cities have responsibilities in Truth and Reconciliation," wrote Sendzik. "We know that bringing the community together will create better understanding — and that is a significant way to tackle this kind of racism."

The online comments also drew rebuke from three Niagara MPPs.

On Twitter, Niagara West Progressive Conservative MPP Sam Oosterhoff wrote that he strongly condemns the "these shameful and disgusting comments" and that "this type of violent language towards anyone is unacceptable."

NDP MPPs Jeff Burch of St. Catharines and Wayne Gates of Niagara Falls also followed suit, posting on Twitter their support for Indigenous rights and condemning Facebook posts about the hunters.

Niagara Action for Animals and Short Hills Wildlife Alliance oppose the hunt and claim it makes the park unsafe and damages the environment. Supporters of the groups have also declared the hunt illegal.

The hateful comments and the subsequent invitations to join a Nov. 14 protest at Short Hills park, were deleted a few days after they were posted. However, The Standard has obtained screen captures of them.

The leaders of the organizations — Robin Zavitz, Sheila Krekorian and Cath Ens-Hurwood — did not answer questions about the posts.

In comments on the Niagara Action for Animals Facebook page, supporters claimed the effort to "stand up for the deer" have been "hijacked" by false claims of racism. Other supporters, however, pointed out that racist and violent comments were made, and the organization should have apologized for inviting those people to join the protest.

At least one of the people who made a violent post about the hunters, Paula Cromier, apologized for the comments.

In a Facebook messenger post to a Standard reporter, Cromier — who called for the hunters to be "harvested" — said her comments were made in the "heat of the moment," and were wrong.

"Of course I don't want to " harvest " any hunters. What is wrong with you?" Cromier wrote to the a reporter, claiming The Standard's Tuesday story was "one sided" and she was now being harassed online.

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The Standard reached out to Cromier on Tuesday for comment about her posts but did not receive a reply.

Statement From Mayor Sendzik Re. Support for First Nations Hunt by Grant LaFleche on Scribd

- Short Hills hunt opponents label Indigenous hunters drunks, call for their deaths