Louie Sam facts for kids

Louie Sam (born around 1870 – died February 24, 1884) was a young Stó:lō boy from a village near Abbotsford, British Columbia. He was only 14 years old when he was killed by a group of people from the United States. This sad event is known as a lynching, which means a mob killed someone without a proper trial.

The Story of Louie Sam

Louie Sam was accused of killing James Bell, a shop owner in a place called Nooksack. Today, this area is in Whatcom County, Washington. Louie Sam's community, now known as the Sumas First Nation, handed him over to the government in British Columbia. They wanted the matter to be handled fairly by the law.

What Happened Next?

On February 24, 1884, a large, angry group of people crossed the border from the U.S. into Canada. Louie Sam was being held by a B.C. deputy and was waiting for his trial in New Westminster. The mob took him and then killed him near the U.S. border.

The Investigation and Truth

Canadian officials looked into what happened. Their investigation strongly suggested that Louie Sam was innocent. They believed the real killers were two white American men. These men were actually leaders of the mob that killed Louie Sam. One was William Osterman, who took over Bell's business. The other was David Harkness. Neither of these men was ever charged with the crime.

Remembering Louie Sam

Many years later, on March 1, 2006, the government of Washington State in the U.S. recognized this historical injustice. The Washington State Senate and House of Representatives passed a resolution. It stated that they joined British Columbia in acknowledging the "unfortunate historical injustice to Louie Sam and the proud Stó:lō people." This was an important step in recognizing the wrong that was done to Louie Sam and his community.