(ATR) An Olympic flag in Vancouver may have been stolen from City Hall as a protest by a native group, who released an image of three of its members with what the say is the missing flag.

The flag was ripped from its halyard early on Tuesday as the IOC Coordination Commission for Vancouver began its latest round of meetings.

A group calling itself Native Warrior Society issued a statement and a photo on Thursday that claims responsibility for stealing the flag.

The statement says the theft was inspired by Harriet Nahanee, a Squamish elder who died last month. She had been jailed on contempt charges after protesting the expansion of the Sea-to-Sky Highway last year.

"We stand in solidarity with all those fighting against the destruction caused by the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. No Olympics on stolen native land!", says the letter from the group.

The photo depicts three hooded people holding the Mohawk confederacy flag and a photo of Nahanee in front of what appears to be the Olympic flag.

IOC Coordination Commission chair Rene Fasel dismissed any worries about the flag theft, saying people have a right to protest.

Police, who say they are aware of the group, continue their investigation.

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