Secwepemc Elder ‘Wolverine’ Ignace, 84, died Tuesday surrounded by family on home territory

Secwepemc elder Wolverine.

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, March 23, 2016

Secwepemc Elder William Jones “Wolverine” Ignace, who gained international recognition after the 1995 Gustafsen Lake standoff, died early Tuesday evening surrounded by family in his Adams Lake Indian Band home on Secwepemc territory.

He was 84, said his widow Flora Sampson.

Sampson said in an interview Wednesday that Jones, who is known as Wolverine, was suffering from cancer and had been seriously ill since December.

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.

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.

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.”