Poster: Ts’Peten 1995

Graphic History Collective Poster Series

Poster and introduction by Gord Hill

The siege at Ts’Peten (Gustafsen Lake) occurred in Secwepemc territory (in the south-central interior of “British Columbia”) in the summer of 1995, after a white American rancher began harassing an elder and his family at a Secwepemc Sundance camp. Warriors responded to the elder’s call for help, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) began a large paramilitary operation to clear out the defenders, deploying some 450 officers, mostly heavily armed Emergency Response Teams. They also received assistance from the Canadian military, including nine Bison armoured personnel carriers (APCs).

“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 ‘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.

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.

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.

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.”