A self-proclaimed “queen” and her entourage, who are part of the QAnon-inspired conspiracy theorist group, have left the small village of Richmound in Saskatchewan, Canada, after camping out in an old school for two months. The presence of the group has caused significant unrest among the villagers, prompting protests and even an arrest. Although the group has moved to a farm nearby, residents remain concerned that they may return. The group, led by Romana Didulo, has been traveling around Canada in motorhomes and vehicles for the past few years. The former school where they stayed is privately owned by one of Didulo’s supporters, making it difficult for village officials to intervene. However, a possible fire code violation involving a heater in the background of a livestream prompted an inspection visit by local officials, which ultimately led to the group packing up and leaving.
The departure of the QAnon group brought relief to the villagers, but anxiety remains as they fear a potential comeback. Residents have reported threats made by Didulo and her followers against local officials and other professionals. The village spokesperson expressed concern over possible reprisals, hence the request for anonymity. The group’s flag was still flying above the school even after their departure.
The group, which has its roots in the sovereign citizen movement, a collection of anti-government groups known for dodging taxes and creating fake legal systems, has a peculiar Canadian spin to it. Didulo, through her popular Telegram channel, issues decrees to absolve her followers from bills and debts, although these decrees hold no legal authority. In fact, several of her followers have suffered financial losses after following her advice.
In addition to promoting sovereign citizen ideologies, Didulo spreads anti-vaccination conspiracy theories and engages with QAnon-related ideas. The QAnon conspiracy theory revolves around the notion that former US President Donald Trump is engaged in a secret battle against a satanic pedophile elite within government, business, and the media. Didulo’s group has participated in protests, such as the “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa, and has attempted to arrest police officers, accusing them of “crimes against humanity”.
While the villagers expressed relief at the group’s departure, they also hope that they will leave the region entirely. Didulo and her followers were unresponsive to messages sent to the email addresses listed on their Telegram channels.
