From SISIS@envirolink.org Fri Nov 14 14:16:50 1997
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 16:03:14 -0800
From: "S.I.S.I.S." <SISIS@envirolink.org>
To: humanrights-l@lawlib.wuacc.edu, ind-net@listproc.wsu.edu,
    insap@firstnations.ca, paths-l@YvwiiUsdinvnohii.net,
    sovernet-l@speakeasy.org, serendipity@majordomo.pobox.com,
    triballaw@thecity.sfsu.edu
Subject: Gustafsen: Prison Obstructs Appeal

:-:-:-:S.I.S.I.S.  Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty:-:-:-:
Nov. 14, 1997                                      Bulletin

CANADIAN PRISON AUTHORITIES SABOTAGE APPEAL: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED

Serious interference from officials of the Matsqui federal Prison is
threatening to sabotage the jurisdictional appeal of Shuswap elder and
political prisoner Jones William Ignace, aka Wolverine, who is currently
serving an eight year sentence there for his role in the 1995 Ts'peten
(Gustafsen Lake) standoff. The prison is withholding appeal papers which
require his signature and were faxed to the prison administration for
that purpose on November 12th by his counsel Dr. Bruce Clark.

The Supreme Court of Canada has turned down part of the appeal submitted by
Ignace and fellow Ts'peten Defenders James "OJ" Pitatwanakwat and Shelagh
Franklin. The remainder of the explicitly sovereigntist appeal, which
challenges Canada's jurisdiction over territories which it never legally
obtained by purchase or treaty, could still go ahead, pending Ignace's
signature. However, the prison seems determined that that signature will
not take place.

On Wednesday, the national spokesperson for the Free the Wolverine Campaign
Splitting-the-Sky John Hill, acting as legal agent for Dr. Clark, spoke
to Matsqui official Sheila Lowar of the warden's office, who confirmed
that the prison would not facilitate Ignace's signature on the documents.

Hill then spoke to a Mark Kimball, also of Matsqui prison, and outlined
the urgency of obtaining Wolverine's signature on the appeal papers in
order to meet a court deadline. Hill further explained that he could not
deliver the documents in person, as he has not been allowed to visit
Ignace in Matsqui, although Hill apparently meets the stringent security
screening requirements of the federal Corrections process since he is
permitted to visit Pitawanakwat in another federal facility, near Mission,
BC. Matsqui prison has been unwilling or unable to provide reasons for
refusing him access. Kimball advised Hill that the signing would be
expedited and that he could visit Wolverine for this purpose.

Upon his arrival at Matsqui however, Hill was again told by line staff
that the visit was refused. He informed one of these officers, a Greg
Martin, that the authorization had been granted by Mr. Mark Kimball.
Yet when Officer Martin referred the matter to his Superior Deputy
Superintendent Nancy Wrenshaw, she reiterated that Hill would not be
permitted to visit Wolverine. She further refused to assist or permit the
legal documents to be signed by the appellant Ignace.

"I informed them that they were wilfully obstructing Mr. Ignace's right
to appeal", Hill told S.I.S.I.S.

According to Dr. Bruce Clark "this is standard BC stuff, and the
instructions probably came from Crown Counsel. It is further evidence of
the criminal conspiracy of the bench, bar and legal establishment to
forestall the law respecting native sovereignty over unceded lands from
ever being addressed."

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS URGENTLY SOLICITED to pressure the Canadian
authorities:

- to immediately and forthwith facilitate access to Wolverine by his
legal agent Splitting the Sky John Hill,

- to cease and desist the denial or obstruction of Mr. Ignace's visitors

- to release both indigenous prisoners Pitawanakwat and Ignace pending an
independent, impartial, inquiry into the massive irregularities and
violations of due process which have so outraged supporters and observers
of the Gustafsen Lake trial world-wide.

WE ALSO CALL UPON ALL PARTICIPANTS OF THE UPCOMING ANTI-APEC CONFERENCES
AND DEMONSTRATIONS IN VANCOUVER TO DEMAND THE RELEASE OF INDIGENOUS
POLITICAL PRISONERS IGNACE AND PITAWANAKWAT, TO CONDEMN THE NDP PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT OF BC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FOR THEIR ONGOING CRIMINAL
COMPLICITY IN THE POST-GUSTAFSEN COVERUP, AND TO DEMAND INQUIRIES INTO
THE PARAMILITARY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AT GUSTAFSEN
LAKE AND THE MURDER OF STONEY POINTER DUDLEY GEORGE. THE APEC OF TOMORROW
IS BUILT UPON THE COLONIALISM AND COMPLICITY OF TODAY!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>------ Demand Action From ------<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

  Prime Minister Jean Chretien
  Room 309-S Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont.  K1A OA6  Canada
  Phone: (613) 992-4211  Fax: (613) 941-6900
  Faxing by email: remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@16139416900.iddd.tpc.int
  email:pm@pm.gc.ca
  WWW comments: http://pm.gc.ca/english/pmo/e_corres.htm

  Canadian Solicitor General Andy Scott (In charge of federal Corrections)
  340 Laurier Ave West, Ottawa, Ontario   K1A OP8   Canada
  Phone: (613) 991-2924  Fax: (613) 996-9955
  Email: Scott.A@parl.gc.ca
  Faxing by email: remote-printer.Andy_Scott@16139969955.iddd.tpc.int

  Matsqui federal prison administration
  Phone: (604) 850-8228  Fax: (604) 859-4841

Tell the delegates at the anti-apec meetings to SUPPORT THE TS'PETEN
POLITICAL PRISONERS WITH THEIR VOICES AND CONDEMNATION OF BC & CANADA!

  Peoples Conference Against Imperialist Globalization
  Email: notoapec@vcn.bc.ca

  1997 People's Summit on APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)
  Email: popsum97@bc.sympatico.ca

For more information:

  Splitting the Sky
  National spokesperson, Free the Wolverine Campaign
  Phone/Fax: (604) 543-9661

  or visit the Ts'peten Defenders' web page:

  http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/gustmain.html

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
    S.I.S.I.S.   Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
        P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2

        EMAIL: SISIS@envirolink.org
        WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html

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