Gustafsen Lake Standoff-Archive (Sept. 13-17)
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 4:21pm From: Ernie Yacub
Subject: Peace Arch demonstration Canada-US border
Canadian Authorities Continue To Pursue The Path Of Confrontation
With First Nations People
We received the following message tonight:
"September 15, 1995
On Friday evening (September 15, 1995) an international
vigil for First Nations people took place in the Peace Arch Park
at the U.S./Canadian border. The vigil, calling for a peaceful
resolution to the stand-offs in Gustafson Lake and Ipperwash,
consisted of prayers, ceremonies and honour songs. Information
leaflets were also handed out. While this took place, 4 RCMP
officers conducted surveillance on the vigil participants from
the roof of a customs building.
As members of the Shuswap Nation, organizers and supporters
of the vigil were leaving the site they were stopped by RCMP
officers and immigration officials on Highway 99 enroute to
Vancouver. RCMP officers threatened a number of the passengers in
the 4 car caravan. Also, in a violation of the Jay Treaty (which
states that First Nations people can travel freely between the
so-called U.S./Canadian border), ID was taken from a number of
First Nations people in the caravan. The RCMP also threatened to
arrest an outside observer of this incident and charge them with
"obstruction". Why does the Canadian government and the RCMP
continue to pursue this path of confrontation at yet another
prayers vigil?
In a separate incident, Bill Simmonds (sp?), a member of
International Indian Treaty Council (an NGO with observer status
at the UN) was refused entry into Canada from the U.S. and is
currently being detained by Canadian immigration authorities at
Vancouver International Airport.
We appeal to progressive people around the world to protest
against this violation of human rights."
The above statement was received by us, Arm The Spirit,
tonight and as we post this we don't have the appropriate phone
or fax numbers with the exception of an unconfirmed phone number
for Canadian Immigration offices at Vancouver International
Airport: 604 666 1185. You can call the RCMP Public Complaints
Commission at: 1 800 665 6878.
As this situation will be changing quickly we suggest
contacting the following groups for more information. We will
post more info as it becomes available.
International Indian Treaty Council
Phone: 415 512 1501
Splitting The Sky
Phone: 403 865 1784
Settlers In Support Of Indigenous Sovereignty
E-mail: uc389@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
And of course, we'll provide any info we can...
Sovereignty For First Nations!!
In solidarity,
Arm The Spirit
++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm ++++
+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++===+++==
Arm The Spirit is an autonomist/anti-imperialist collective based
in Toronto, Canada. Our focus includes a wide variety of
material, including political prisoners, national liberation
struggles, armed communist resistance, anti-fascism, the fight
against patriarchy, and more. We regularly publish our writings,
research, and translation materials in our magazine and bulletins
called Arm The Spirit. For more information, contact:
Arm The Spirit
P.O. Box 6326, Stn. A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1P7 Canada
E-mail: ats@etext.org
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FTP: ftp.etext.org --> /pub/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit
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Subject: Bruce Clark vs collaborators
GUSTAFSEN LAKE/IPPERWASH PARK: the collaborators and the police vs the
resistance people
For immediate release
Thursday, September 14, 1995
Monday 11 September 1995: The allegedly collaborating Gitksan Indians
Don Ryan, main political leader, and Gordan Sebastian, lawyer, stayed
together at the same bed and breakfast, Arcona Lodge, near Gustafsen
Lake, Bruce Clark's abode while in the area.
Tuesday 12 September 1995: In the Supreme Court of Canada hearing the
Gitksan lawyer, Stuart Rush, Q.C., scuttles the attempt by the Indian
resistance movement to force the Court to address the legal issue whether
the Court's assumption of jurisdiction constitutionally constitutes
"Misprision of Treason" and "Fraud" and internationally constitutes
"Complicity in Genocide." He tells the Court that the vast majority of
the Indians do not want that issue to be considered. Native sovereignty
depends upon forcing that issue to be addressed, because the Mohegan case
has already resolved that issue in the Indians' favour.
Wednesday 13 September 1995: Bruce Clark, legal counsel for the Indians
under siege at Gustafsen Lake writes to lawyer Nancy Sandy, the
associates of the said Gordan Sebastian, pointing out that she is in a
conflict of interest that precludes her acting for Clark's clients.
Please see accompanying letter Clark to Sandy.
Wednesday 13 September 1995: Shaukeens, the hereditary or traditional
chief of the Ipperwash region delivers a statement to Indian Affairs
Minister Ron Irwin, accusing him of complicity by necessary implication
in the murder by the police of the Indian Dudley George. Irwin ignores
Shaukeens and announces to the media that he and the collaborating
Indians have made a deal that profits the collaborators in consequence of
the death of Dudley George. This is termed by the media to be
significant peace progress. Please see accompanying statement of Shaukeens.
Thursday 14 September 1995: Clark attends at police headquarters near
Gustafsen Lake and demands to see his clients. Access is denied, on the
ground that the clients allegedly have fired Clark and hired the
aforesaid lawyers Nancy Sandy and Gordan Sebastian. Clark is denied
access to his (former?) clients for the purpose of clarifying their
intent and, if they wish, turning over his files to the "new" lawyers.
Clark observes that the collaborating Indians have moved into quarters
for the purpose of assisting the police to bring matters to a "peaceful
conclusion," meaning a surrender by the Gustafsen Lake people without any
guarantee in return that the law upon which they rely in justification of
their occupation will ever be addressed before the constitutionally
appropriate independent and impartial third party tribunal.
Thursday 14 September 1995: The national police convention being held in
Vancouver publishes a report that Indians are using violence to gain
political ends., citing Gustafsen Lake and Ipperwash as illustrations,
but ignoring that in both of those situations the Indians occupations are
defensive not aggressive. The police thus continue consciously to
publish demonstrably false hate literature against the Indian resistance
movement. The police are willfully blind to the sole demand of the
resistance movement. The police continue to prejudge the underlying
issue of their own jurisdiction, and foster public animosity toward the
Indians as a smokescreen to their own ongoing crimes of violence against
the aboriginal people. Please see the accompanying demand of the
Gustafsen Lake Indians.
Friday 18 September 1995: Court is scheduled to sit in relation to
Clark's (former?) clients. He will appear and demand access to them
before any legal steps that may further prejudice their interest in
having the jurisdiction addressed according to the rule of law.
(108 Mile House, Arcona House)
Bruce Clark, counsel
******
Bruce Clark, LL.B., M.A., Ph.D. (Law)
92 Stanley Avenue, Ottawa Ontario, Canada KLM JP4
phone (613) 741-7065 fax (613) 741-7077
By fax and mail
September 13, 1995
Nancy Sandy
Barrister and Solicitor
Nenqay Deni Yajelhkig Law Center
17 South First Avenue
Williams Lake, British Columbia
V2G 1H5
Dear Ms Sandy:
I act as legal counsel pro bono for the occupants of the Indian
encampment under siege at Gustafsen Lake British Columbia. The police
illegally have denied my clients and I access to each other. I am
informaed that, instead, the police have been steering my clients to you
in lieu of me, and that you have been
accepting the work.
My clients' legal position is as disclosed in their accompanying demand
dated 25 August 1995. As a member of the bar of British Columbia you are
in a profound conflict of interest in relation to that legal position.
The conflict deepens to the extent that you are on retainer with the
Indian Act band council system whose interest under domestic legislation
conflicts with the traditionalists' interest under constitutional
legislation.
Anything that you say or do that directly or indirectly results in my
clients or any of them being duped, whether in hope of favour or fear of
prejudice or otherwise, into attorning in any way to the usurpation of
jurisdiction by the police and domestic court system aids and abets the
crimes of "Misprision of Treason,' "Fraud' and "Complicity in Genocide,"
as well as breaches the most fundamental ethical principles of the legal
profession.
Sincerely,
Bruce Clark
Encl
Copies:
Law Society of British Columbia. fax 604-669-5232
RCMP 100 Mile House. fax 604-395-3605
Attorney General of British Columbia. fax 604-387-6411
RCMP Commissioner. fax 613-993-0260
******
posted September 15, 1995
by ernie yacub
yacinfo@mars.ark.com
--------------------------------------
Return to Page Table of Contents
(SISIS)
Subject: UPDATE - SEPT 16 - BRUCE CLARK ARRESTED
COURT TUSSLE LANDS CLARK IN SLAMMER
(Victoria Times Colonist, Saturday Sept 16 A1)
Bail hearing for five camp protesters turns into wrestling match
Dirk Meissner
Times Colonist staff
100 MILE HOUSE, B.C.
Bruce Clark fought the law - and the law won.
The controversial Ottawa native-rights lawyer was
handcuffed Friday and taken to a holding cell for the
weekend after a bail hearing for five Gustafsen Lake
protesters turned into a wrestling match.
"I'll see you in court in Williams Lake on Monday," said
Provincial Court Judge Nick Friesen, who cited Clark for
contempt.
It took seven Mounties and four sheriffs to corral a
squirming and swearing Clark and remove him from the
courtroom. Clark did not take kindly to being handcuffed
from behind.
He dived under a table at the front of the courtroom and
tried to resist police efforts to capture him.
All the while, he swore at police and rebuked the court
system.
"This kangaroo court will not succeed," Clark said.
"Filthy god damn fascist goons. Just following orders
is not an excuse for genocide since 1948."
The commotion began about 9:40 a.m., when Clark burst
into the courtroom and demanded to speak.
"Open the God damn door," he shouted. "Who's the Crown
attorney here? I'm sitting at the counsel table."
Clark's anger rose when he realized the courtroom had
been locked and only the media, police, court staff and a
few natives were present.
"Are you mad?" he said. "Since the Magna Carta,
courtrooms have not been locked."
Friesen refused to allow Clark to continue, saying the
lawyer was not a member of the Law Society of B.C.
Clark, who said he was acting for his clients on a pro
bono basis, threw a nine-page document at the judge.
The document was a notice of motion seeking the
immediate release of the five people.
Clark said the police have denied him access to his
clients and he has not been able to obtain "fresh
instructions" from them.
He accused the court of being guilty of treason, fraud
and complicity in genocide.
The struggle began when Clark told officers standing
behind him to "back up".
That's when one of the officers handcuffed Clark and
the wrestling ensued. Nobody appeared to be hurt.
Things returned to normal after Clark was escorted
from the courtroom.
The doors were opened and the bail hearing for the five
began. All are charged with mischief and forcible
detainment.
Edward Dick, Glenn Denault and Sheila Ignace, who is
related to rebel camp leader William Ignace, were
released on their own recognizance. They will be back in
court Oct. 3. Ronald Dionne and Brent Potulicki were
remanded in custody and will return to court next
Tuesday.
RCMP Sgt. Peter Montague said Friday evening that
Clark was behind bars at the 100 Mile House RCMP
detachment. He will be transported to Williams Lake
Monday.
Clark will also face charges of resisting arrest and
assaulting a peace officer, Montague said.
Meanwhile, Shuswap negotiators were able to convince
another native male to leave the camp at Gustafsen Lake,
Montague said.
He said police were interviewing the man at
headquarters at in 100 Mile House. His name was not
released.
Montague said John Stevens, a Cree spiritual leader
from Alberta, will enter the camp today to speak with
the protesters.
Stevens is an acquaintance of Percy Rosette, the
protester who brought the Sundance ceremony to 100
Mile House, Montague said.
The protesters, who call themselves defenders of the
Shuswap, say the Gustafsen Lake site is sacred. Sundance
ceremonies have been held there.
Earlier this week, Arvol Looking Horse, a Sioux holy
man and keeper of the Sundance ceremony, met with the
protesters in the camp.
Tom Dennis, a Shuswap spokesman, said Looking Horse
was able to soften the tension surrounding the camp and
move the peace process forward.(Victoria Times Colonist,
Saturday Sept 16 A1)...end
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Return to Page Table of Contents
For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 14, 1995
Monday 11 September 1995: The allegedly collaborating Gitksan Indians Don Ryan, main political leader, and Gordon Sebastian, lawyer, stayed together at the same bed and breakfast, Arcona Lodge, near Gustafsen Lake, Bruce Clark's abode while in the area.
Tuesday 12 September 1995: In the Supreme Court of Canada hearing the Gitksan lawyer Stuart Rush, Q.C., scuttles the attempt by the Indian resistance movement to force the Court to address the legal issue whether the Court's assumption of jurisdiction constitutionally constitutes "Misprision of Treason" and "Fraud" and internationally constitutes "Complicity in Genocide". He tells the Court that the vast majority of the Indians do not want that issue to be considered. Native sovereignty depends upon forcing that issue to be addressed, because the "Mohegan" case has already resolved that issue in the Indians' favour.
Wednesday 13 September 1995: Bruce Clark, legal counsel for the Indians under siege at Gustafsen Lake writes to lawyer Nancy Sandy, the associate of the said Gordon Sebastian, pointing out that she is in a conflict of interest that precludes her from acting for Clark's clients.
Wednesday 13 September 1995: Shaukeens, the hereditary or traditional chief of the Ipperwash region delivers a statement to Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin, accusing him of complicity by necessary implication in the murder by the police of the Indian Dudley George. Irwin ignores Shaukeens and announces in the media that he and the collaborating Indians have made a deal that profits the collaborators in consequence of the death of Dudley George. This is termed by the media to be significant peace progress.
Thursday 14 September 1995: Clark attends at police headquarters near Gustafsen Lake and demands to see his clients. Access he is denied, on the ground that the clients allegedly have fired Clark and hired the aforesaid laywers Nancy Sandy and Gordon Sebastian. Clark is denied access to his (former?) clients for the purpose of clarifying their intent and, if they wish, turning over his files to the "new" lawyers. Clark observes that the collaborating Indians have moved into quarters for the purpose of assisting the police to bring matters to a "peaceful conclusion", meaning a surrender by the Gustafsen Lake people without any guarantee in return that the law upon which they rely in justification of their occupation will ever be addressed before the constitutionally appropriate independent and impartial third party tribunal.
Thursday 14 September 1995: The national police convention being held in Victoria publishes a report that Indians are using *violence to gain political ends*, citing Gustafsen Lake and Ipperwash as illustrations, but ignoring that in both of these situations the Indians' occupations are defensive not aggressive. The police thus continue consciously to publish demonstrably false hate literature against the Indian resistance movement. The police are willfully blind to the sole demand of the resistance movement, which is *legal* not *political*. The police continue to prejudge the underlying issue of their own jurisdiction, and foster public animosity toward the Indians as a smokescreen to their own ongoing crimes of violence against the aboriginal people.
Friday 15 September 1995: Court is scheduled to sit in relation to Clark's (former?) clients. He will appear and demand access to them before any legal steps that may further prejudice their interest in having the jurisdiction addressed according to the rule of law.
[100 Mile House, Arcona House]
Certified by Counsel:
Bruce Clark, LL. B., M.A., Ph.D. (Law)
92 Stanley Avenue
Ottawa, Canada K1M 1P4
(613) 741-7095 FAX 7077
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"There is a line, and the line is that there shall be no
alien intervention in the affairs of the state in this
country and this province."
- BC Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh, categorically
rejecting any involvement by an independent, impartial,
international body; "Vancouver Sun", Friday Sept 15, A1
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
posted by S.I.S.I.S.
Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
PO Box 8673
Victoria, BC
Canada V8X 3S2
or uc389@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
----------------------------------------
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Subject: Gustafsen Lake Seige Ends
From:
CBC newsworld broadcast (7pm BC time) the beginnings of a RCMP press conference concerning the end to the Gustafsen Lake siege.
Twelve occupants have been evacuated and placed in police custody.
This happened after the visit of the sundancers' spiritual leader,John Stevens
and Marlowe Sam entered the camp along with others neededfor a peace ceremony.
The occupants were evacuated by car in groups of three or four, then`processed'
by the RCMP and taken to further checkpoint, where they wereflown by police
helicopter to the 100 Mile House airport. Some are beingheld in jail at 100
Mile House, and some were transferred to Williams Lake.Marlowe Sam has
remained in the campsite. He is guarding the sacred site ofthe Sundance. This
will later be shared between two others.The police are in the campsite
conducting their investigations.