Port Alberni, BC- The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) sends our deepest condolences to the family and community of late James Williams, who comes from Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. It has come to our attention that James was found deceased shortly after his release from the Duncan RCMP detachment, on July 16, 2020.
We have been informed that on July 15, 2020 at approximately 4:30 p.m., RCMP officers arrested James Williams, for allegedly being publicly intoxicated in Duncan, BC. It is our understanding that he was then
transported to the RCMP cells. Further, that on July 16, 2020, at 1:30 a.m., James was released from RCMP custody. Fourteen hours later, at 3:30pm, the RCMP were called to assist Emergency Health Services at Warmland House, a shelter and transitional residence in Duncan, B.C., where James Williams was found deceased in his unit.
The Independent Investigation Office (IIO) will investigate to determine what role, if any, the officers’ actions or inaction may have played in the death of James Williams. The BC Coroners Service is also conducting an independent investigation to determine how, where, when and by what means he came to his death.
This devastating news comes at a time where our top political figures have finally admitted that systemic racism does in fact exist within the RCMP, and also within every single health region in B.C. Countless reports of unjust treatment and blatant racism towards First Nations people are coming forward in recent weeks.
The Nuu-chah-nulth people are still grieving the heartbreaking loss of Chantel Moore-Martin (mit) who was killed by a member of the Edmundston Police in New Brunswick recently during a “wellness check”.
The NTC is committed to standing in support of the family of late James Williams as they seek important answers to their questions, to determine what may have occurred and by whom, prior to James’ untimely death.
We implore the IIO and BC Coroners Service to conduct a thorough investigation, so that the family will be able to obtain the answers that they deserve. The IIO is asking that any person who saw or spoke to James Williams on July 16, 2020 to contact the IIO Witness Line toll free at 1-855-446- 8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
