Jon Wells, a 42-year-old man from the Kainai Blood Tribe in Alberta, died after an encounter with Calgary police at a hotel lobby. He was restrained using multiple types of force, including Tasers, pepper spray, and a spit mask, and was declared dead at the scene. Wells was an accomplished steer wrestler and father to three daughters, known for creating a horse therapy program for those struggling with addictions.
Anti-Indigenous racism is deeply embedded in the structure of policing in Canada, beginning with the RCMP. The RCMP was established to enforce colonial and assimilative policies on Indigenous people, and systemic racism remains an ongoing issue in Canada’s police forces. Use-of-force guidelines in Canada are less restrictive compared to the U.S., and efforts are being made to improve de-escalation training programs and crisis intervention practices.
The Assembly of First Nations has called for a national inquiry into police-involved deaths, following the deaths of individuals like Jon Wells during encounters with police. At a recent assembly, Martha Martin and Claudette Beals-Clayton, who also lost children during police encounters, spoke directly to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, urging him to hear their stories and address the issue of police violence against Indigenous people in Canada. Wells also spoke to Trudeau, sharing her story and emphasizing the need for accountability and justice for victims like her son.
