The 's Territorial Crime Reduction Unit and Yellowknife 's General Investigation Section are handling the investigation into those viral music videos that have garnered plenty of reaction.
The videos, which were filmed in and around the Yellowknife area, featured several people brandishing firearms in a threatening manner and throwing gang signals in and around the Yellowknife area all while performing in what were designed to be music videos.
Police issued a statement on the matter late Friday afternoon, stating it was first notified about the videos on Aug. 11.
"Due to the high visibility of these videos on social media and concerns expressed by residents, the Northwest Territories is making every effort to conduct a thorough investigation," the statement read. " investigators continue to make progress and the filmmaker behind the videos has been very cooperative."
Chief Supt. Dyson Smith, commanding officer of the NWT , also had some words of his own about what's been happening, stating that the investigation has been prioritized by police.
"Whether or not the intention of these individuals was to glorify gang culture in Yellowknife, these videos have been alarming for the entire community, including various racialized community groups," he stated. "Enforcement action will be pursued if charges are warranted."
Smith added that the actions of a few should not be a reflection of an entire community.
"This has already generated some negativity through various social media platforms," he stated. "Any perceived threats or acts of violence towards any groups will not be tolerated and I encourage those impacted to contact their local . It is important to remember that this not a reflection on the South Asian community, or any other racialized groups, as they have been unified in their swift condemnation of this incident.SA国际影视传媒�
The manager of a Punjabi artist whose music was featured in one of those videos says he's unhappy with how firearms were being brandished in it.
Sukh Dhillon is the manager for Harkirat Sangha, who has a song titled "C4". Wildly Addicted Studio used that song in its social media content that features what appear to be handguns and other long-barrel firearms, and people posing with and firing them.
"That's not acceptable from my point of view," said Dhillon.
Other than that, the rest of the video that features C4 is fine, he added.
The song also has nothing to do with guns, Dhillon stressed. Instead, it's a love story between a man and a woman.
"He's telling his girlfriend that I'm not a suitable guy for you. I have a bad background. My friends' circle is bad, they're not good people, so you should find someone else," Dhillon said, explaining the song's message.
"They could have used any other song, too, because there are a lot of gangster songs in [the] Punjabi music industry," said Dhillon. "But our song is not the gangster vibe, so I don't know."
The original music video for C4 was filmed in Toronto. The cover art for the song, as well as the album it's a part of, does include a small child holding a firearm. Also, the first lyric in the song, according to Spotify, read "Ho teenage to hi bni gun te grip ni" which seems to roughly translate to saying a person having a good grip on a gun since their teenage years.
Asked about this, Dhillon said what he meant was that Sangha is not promoting gun culture.
Multiple people reached out to SA国际影视传媒 about the videos on Wednesday, which were widely shared on multiple social media platforms with several comments made about the content of the video itself along with some rather disparaging comments about South Asians in particular.
When asked about the perceived racist backlash Wildly Addicted StudioSA国际影视传媒檚 content received, in particular towards South Asians, Dhillon declined to comment.
SA国际影视传媒 contacted Shubham Lakhi, owner of Wildly Addictive Studios, through social media on Wednesday.
He said he had spoken with police about the content of the video.
"They will release a statement once they are done with their part. From our side and from my interview with , there is no threat to the public and this was admitted by [an] constable as well," he said.
Lakhi also said inspected their air pistols and they were given the all-clear.
Air guns are still subject to federal law, however. Jonathan Rocheleau, director of the Yellowknife Shooting Club, said it could depend on technicalities, but to avoid any legal trouble, it's best to fire air pistols either in designated shooting zones or outside city limits.
The Association of South Asians in Yellowknife issued its own response to the videos on Thursday, stating that while those in the video are reportedly South Asian, they are not affiliated with the association and their actions don't reflect their values.
"Content like this reinforces negative stereotypes and contributes to harmful narratives," reads the statement in part. "It undermines the meaningful work being done by many to build mutual trust, respect and belonging in Yellowknife."
The association noted the alleged discrimination received due to the video being circulated, stating it opposed any attempt to "target or discriminate against South Asians as a whole."
-with files from James McCarthy
