Kevin John
Description
About Kevin John
Kevin John is a local musician, a respected Kaslovian, and an emerging activist. Raised in the Kootenays as a mixed-heritage Kyuquot person, he has seen firsthand how Indigenous presence and stories have been pushed aside. His work is rooted in a deep commitment to Indigenous rights and reconciliation, both in this region and further afield.
Background & Story
Kevin grew up in the Kootenays, where his mother’s family settled. His father, who is Indigenous, attended residential school on Vancouver Island and later met Kevin’s mother at Kyuquot. After Kevin was born, his parents separated, shaped in part by the trauma his father carried from that experience. Raised in a largely whitewashed family and community, Kevin had very little contact with Indigenous people while growing up. In some ways, that absence shielded him from racism; in other ways, it reflected the broader assimilation system. Over time, especially through his twenties, his connection to his identity deepened. In recent years, and particularly after the truth about residential schools has come into sharper public focus, this has become central to his life.
Activism & Community Work
Kevin has been working to uncover the largely invisible history of this land, including the stories of the Sinixt, one of the main nations in the territory. That work has been difficult, because so much of that history was deliberately erased or suppressed. He speaks clearly about the difference between removing colonial symbols and erasing history: the history is still documented, while Indigenous histories, including stories of violence and loss, have often been left without plaques, markers, or gravestones. Finding those stories has been especially challenging outside his own traditional territory, though he has been fortunate to connect with people who do know them. He also notes the growing recognition of the Ktunaxa, who own and operate Ainsworth Hot Springs.
Impact & Future
One recent milestone was helping convince the municipal government to include a land acknowledgment in local council meetings. This came through his own efforts, along with the work of his aunt and uncle, who are active in restorative justice and prison systems. He also describes the lowering of the flags as a powerful moment that moved him to tears. To him, these are important steps, even if they are only small ones. Kevin believes Indigenous people must be able to live as they choose and govern themselves according to their own traditions. In his view, there can be no true reconciliation without that. He understands why some people fear change, but he believes resource extraction would continue — only in a more intelligent, sustainable way that also supports Indigenous communities.
Music & Performance
Music has been Kevin’s form of personal growth and healing. Now, performance is becoming his platform for speaking out. He is choosing more songs with a social message, believing that artists have a responsibility to reflect society back to itself. He will be performing on Saturday at 4pm in front of the Kemball building in Kaslo, with the show livestreamed on the Langham Facebook page.