Family members of a man charged with second-degree murder in what police say was a targeted hit and run death on Haida Gwaii are being shunned in First Nations communities throughout B.C.

Though police and the Council of the Haida Nation have encouraged the protests to cease, those taking part say they want to send a message about violence in their communities.

The victim in the case is 32-year-old Luke Pearson, born and raised in Skidegate, a Haida Gwaii village of about 700 people.

RCMP say he was hit and killed on April 22 on Front Street, in what appeared to be a targeted attack with a vehicle.