Echoes of Oka: Trudeau minister says military involvement possible against oil pipeline resistance

Canadian soldier and warrior face off during 1990 Oka Crisis.

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, December 2, 2016

Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr suggested Thursday Canada is prepared to deploy the military against anti-pipeline actions deemed “not to be peaceful,” raising the possibility the country could face a scenario last seen during the Oka Crisis in 1990.

“Native 9/11” – Inquiry demanded into siege at Gustafsen Lake

Flora Samson, Ts’peten Defender, with granddaughter Kanahus. Photo: Vancouver Media Coop.

21 years later, Canada evades the legal, jurisdictional issues they tried to kill along with Secwepemc leaders.

by Kerry Coast, Vancouver Media Coop, September 15, 2016

Over a hundred people gathered during the afternoon of September 11, 2016, to remember what happened at Ts’peten (“Gustafsen Lake”) on that date in 1995. On that date, more than a dozen Secwepemc sovereigntists were trapped inside a barricade of 400 Royal Canadian Mounted Police – cut off from roads, radio and satellite phone – at the site of their recent Sundance. A formal inquiry has been demanded ever since.

Secwepemc Elder and Warrior Wolverine Passes On

Secwepemc elder and warrior Wolverine (William Jones Ignace).

By Ts’Peten Defence Committee, March 22, 2016

Today, Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 our Secwepemc War Hero and Elder Wolverine William Jones Ignace passed on to the Spirit World at his home in Secwepemc Territory. Wolverine earned his Battle Honours at Ts’Peten, Gustafsen Lake Siege in 1995, were he and other Warriors successfully survived a military attack launched by the Canadian government, in defence of his unsurrendered Secwepemc Lands. He leaves with us a great legacy of Indigenous Resistance, Struggle and Victory. He is widely respected and loved, not only by his family, community and Secwepemc Nation, but throughout the World as well. Wolverine lit the fires of Freedom in the hearts and spirits of countless Peoples fighting for Indigenous Lives, Lands and Rights. Wolverine will be greatly missed by Indigenous Warriors on the frontlines from Alaska to South America.

Vancouver police investigating warriors who dumped dirt in Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould’s office

An employee at Jody Wilson-Raybould’s office in Vancouver attempts to de-mask warriors, March 3, 2016.

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, March 8, 2016
The Vancouver police is trying to identify a group of masked warriors who dumped dirt inside the constituency office of Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould over her refusal to call a public inquiry into the 1995 Gustafson Lake armed standoff.

A spokesperson for the Vancouver police said an investigation is currently ongoing into the March 3 incident, but detectives have yet to identify the warriors who executed the protest.

Wolverine Speaks: Ts’Peten/Gustafsen Lake Inquiry, Genocide and Unceded Territories

Photo of Wolverine taken in the fall of 2014 at the Red Chris Mine road while it was being blockaded a second time after the Imperial Metals Mount Polley Disaster, August, 2014.

Published by: Ts’Peten Defence Committee, January 27, 2016
In her first public appearance as Federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of
Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Kwakwaka’wakw, publicly spoke to the letter I sent on
January 4th, 2016 to both her and the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau calling
for a National Inquiry into the Ts’Peten/Gustafsen Lake Standoff 1995. She was asked
three times by three women, to take action, to call this Inquiry and to address the
ongoing genocide that is taking place on our Territories. Her response, as the Federal
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada was disrespectful and dismissive.
You all need a history lesson. Here it is.

Minister of Justice responds to call for inquiry into Gustafsen Lake standoff

Federal justice minister and British Columbia MP Jody Wilson-Raybould speaks at SFU in Vancouver, BC Saturday, January 23, 2016. Photograph by: Jason Payne , Vancouver Sun

Says it’s not a priority

By Tiffany Crawford, Vancouver Sun, January 23, 2016

Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says she will look into a call for an inquiry into the 1995 Gustafsen Lake standoff, but the issue is not a top priority.

Wilson-Raybould, who is also the Liberal MP for Vancouver-Granville and Canada’s first aboriginal minister, delivered her first official speech since being appointed justice minister at Simon Fraser University’s Woodward campus on Saturday in downtown Vancouver.

ALLIED TRIBES RELEASE UNITY STATEMENT: WE WILL DEFEND OUR TERRITORIES TOGETHER UNDER TRIBAL LAW

PRESS ADVISORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 19, 2016

The following press release is written from unceded and unsurrendered Secwepemc Territory under the auspices of Tribal Law.

On Sunday, January 17th, 2016, the Allied Tribes, representatives of Tribes from across Turtle Island (Anishnaabe, Dene Suline, Tsimshian, St’at’imc, Okanagan, Ahousaht, Snuneymuxw, Wet’suwet’en, etc.) met at Adams Lake Gym in Secwepemculecw (“Chase”), honouring Wolverine’s call for a historic gathering and feast. The last time such a meeting of the Allied Tribes had been called was at Spences Bridge when the Spences Bridge Memorial Letter 1911 was sent to then Federal Minister of the Interior, Frank Oliver (see attached document).

Gustafsen Lake standoff: protesters renew calls for an inquiry

William John Ignace, known as Wolverine, is led from a helicopter by an RCMP officer on Sept. 17, 1995 after the month-long armed standoff at Gustafsen Lake ended. (Canadian Press)

In the 1995 standoff 400 officers confronted about 20 protesters

By Daybreak Kamloops, CBC News,  Jan 18, 2016

Several First Nations protesters involved in the 1995 Gustafsen Lake standoff are calling for a national inquiry into the level of force used by the RCMP during the 31-day confrontation.

Protest leader William Jones Ignace, known as Wolverine, and the Ts’Peten Defence Committee submitted a letter on Jan. 4  to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Attorney General and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, calling for an inquiry.

Gustafsen Lake warrior granted political asylum in US wants return home to Canada

James Pitawanakwat during the 1995 siege at Ts’Peten/Gustafsen Lake, BC.

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, January 15, 2016
A Wikwemikong man who was given political asylum in the U.S. following the 1995 Gustafsen Lake armed standoff in British Columbia wants to return to Canada.

James “OJ” Pitawanakwat, 44, has lived in the U.S. since August 1998 when he crossed the border while on day parole in Canada.

The U.S. Federal Court for the District of Oregon denied Canada’s extradition request for Pitawanakwat in November 2000 on grounds his actions in B.C. were “of a political character” and qualified for an exemption under the extradition treaty between Canada and the U.S.

Renewed calls for a national inquiry into standoff at Gustafsen Lake

Bison APC used by RCMP at Gustafsen Lake, BC, 1995.

Twenty years after a standoff with RCMP, some First Nations protestors are calling for a national inquiry

By Daybreak Kamloops, CBC News, Jan 13, 2016

There’s a renewed call for a national inquiry into the Gustafsen lake standoff.

It happened near 100 Mile House, 20 years ago.

First Nations protestors occupied a piece of ranch land they said was sacred.