Blood Tribe Chief Roy Fox has called for a public inquiry into the death of 42-year-old Jon Wells.
Fox, speaking Wednesday on the first day of a three-day Assembly of First Nations gathering in Calgary, called out police, not just for the fatal incident involving Wells but for other incidents in which “others have suffered the same fate at the hands of police forces throughout Canada.”
“They’re supposed to protect us, not kill us,” said Fox, who said he was speaking on behalf of Wells’ family and extended family, as well as Blood Tribe members. Wells’ mother and two of his siblings were in attendance Wednesday.
The Wells family and Blood Tribe will be pursuing a formal complaint against the three officers involved in his death, and will “pursue every path toward the administration of accountability,” said Fox.
In a motion, he called on the Assembly of First Nations to support the Wells family and the Blood Tribe in their attempt to secure a public inquiry into his death, and asked Mayor Jyoti Gondek for her support to ensure that inquiry takes place.
While Gondek and Calgary police commission chair Shawn Cornett have been supportive, said Fox, he said the Wells family and Blood Tribe “have not received any kind of support or any kind of sign of empathy from the provincial government nor the federal government.”
Fox called on both governments to “enact or amend legislation, regulations and/or policies to prevent the hiring of individuals with racist, discriminatory or prejudiced views” within police services.
Earlier during Wednesday’s meeting, Assembly of First Nations Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak offered the AFN’s “deepest condolences” to the Wells family.
“He was a well-known rodeo competitor. Sadly, Jon is one of nine First Nations who have died in police custody across Canada over the past couple of months — within three weeks there was nine First Nations people.
“We feel your pain. We’re with you. We let (Wells’ family) know that we will never stop fighting in his name and all the others that died in custody of colonial police forces to ensure justice is served in these cases, and First Nations policing is finally legislated and fully funded as an essential service in this country.”
In a Thursday statement, Gondek said “her heart is with (Wells’) family and community” and supports Fox’s call for a public inquiry.
“In a case like this, Jon Wells’ family and community deserve transparency around the incident,” said Gondek.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, in Calgary on Thursday for a funding announcement, told Postmedia she was unaware if anyone from the federal government has contacted the Blood Tribe about Wells’ death, but added she supports “inquiries and examinations of the disproportionate number of First Nations people who face death at the hands of police action or through neglectful care in other institutions.”
“The incidents of systemic discrimination in institutions, policing, hospitals, justice, is well known, but obviously action isn’t happening quickly enough for the kinds of tragedies like Mr. Wells’ death or others across Canada,” said Hajdu.
Asked about Fox’s call for the federal government to ensure police officers with racist or prejudiced views aren’t hired, Hajdu said all law enforcement agencies and bodies that provide care or respond to people in need have to look internally to ensure systemic discrimination isn’t part of how they operate.
— With files from Steven Wilhelm and