Presented by the Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC) at the University of the Fraser Valley in partnership with the City of Abbotsford’s Culture City Program Series.

Join us for the public debut screening of Legacy of a Lynching — Creating A Resting Heart, a documentary produced by the Peace and Reconciliation Centre and Desiré Kokuvi Amouzou that explores ongoing legacies associated with the 1884 lynching of Louie Sam, a 15-year-old Stó:lō boy.

In February 1884, Louie Sam was wrongfully accused of the murder of an American settler and taken into custody by British Columbia officials. Before he could face the Canadian justice system, he was taken from custody by a group of approximately 100 American vigilantes from Whatcom County and lynched in Canada near the Canada-United States border. Despite investigations into his death, those responsible were never held accountable.

A Resting Heart follows John Emmery, a descendant of one of the men responsible for Louie murder, as he works to deliver a personal apology to Louie Sam and the Semá:th community. The harm committed by his ancestor is still causing pain and trauma today, to Stó:lō people and settlers both. Through his journey, the documentary invites reflection on accountability, reconciliation, and the difficult work of confronting histories of violence, racism, and colonial injustice.

At the heart of the film are the voices, knowledge, and generosity of spirit of the Semá:th First Nation and Stó:lō community.

Louie Sam’s death is a tragic and criminal part of our history. A Resting Heart honours his memory and creates space for compassion, empathy, healing, and justice. It challenges us to recognize that we all have a responsibility to remember, to learn from, and to respond to the past.

Taking place shortly before September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the evening will begin with opening remarks from Dr. Keith Thor Carlson and will conclude with a brief conversation and Q&A featuring Grand Chief Clarence “Kat” Pennier, Chief Dalton Silver, Dr. Keith Thor Carlson, John Emmery, and Desiré Kokuvi Amouzou.

As part of the City of Abbotsford’s Culture City Program Series under the theme of Dialogue, this evening offers an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful conversation about history, memory, accountability, and reconciliation.

Event Details
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Matsqui Centennial Auditorium
32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC

This event is free to attend. Advance registration through Find You in the Valley’s website is requested.

Content warning: This film and conversation include discussion of the lynching of Louie Sam, colonization, racism, anti-Indigenous violence, historical injustice, and the impacts of colonial systems on Stó:lō communities. Attendee discretion is advised.