“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.

Meet the Man Who Fled Canada and Was Granted Asylum in the US

James “OJ” Pitawanakwat

By Sarah Berman, Vice.com, April 17, 2016

James “OJ” Pitawanakwat hasn’t returned to the Anishinaabe community on Manitoulin Island where he grew up in nearly two decades. He can’t, because in Canada there’s an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Over the phone from his home on Saginaw Chippewa reservation in Michigan, Pitawanakwat tells me he feels a swell of pride thinking about the actions he took in the summer of 1995—actions that led to his arrest and conviction on mischief and weapons charges.

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.

RCMP Attend Secwepemc Elder’s Residence after his Public Opposition to the BC Treaty Process and Calls for Gustafsen Lake Inquiry

RCMP at the NStQ treaty vote in Williams Lake, Feb 11, 2016.

by Ts’Peten Defence Committee, March 2, 2016

On February 26th, 2016 at approximately 11am, 2 RCMP officers attended Wolverine’s residence in Secwepemculecw. Sergeant Frank Paul of the Southeast District Advisory NCO, Aboriginal Policing Services, located in Kelowna claimed his reason for attending was in response to the Notice of Dispute regarding the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) Treaty/BC Treaty Process the Ts’Peten Defence Committee sent on February 10th, 2016 to the RCMP and various international bodies, including United Nations officials (see February 10th letter below this one).

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.

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.

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.

Secwepemc elder Wolverine calls for inquiry into 1995 Ts’Peten Standoff

Ts’Peten siege, 1995.  Secwepemc elder Wolverine in centre.

This letter by Wolverine is being sent to the Government today. He is calling for a national public inquiry into Gustafsen Lake. Please share his letter to the Government of Canada calling for a public inquiry.

Under Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Canada’s largest paramilitary operation was carried out on the sacred Sundance lands at Ts’Peten in 1995. Armoured personnel carriers, .50 calibre machine guns, land mines, and an astonishing 77,000 rounds of ammunition were directed at the land defenders. A police note by Chief Superintendent Johnston stated: “There are 6 hardliners in the camp WHO WILL REQUIRE KILLING.”