Granisle RCMP shooting: First Nation to cover victims' funeral costs

The family of a mother and son killed in an RCMP-involved shooting can't afford to lay them to rest.

But a local First Nation has stepped forward to pay the funeral and cremation costs for Shirley and Jovan Williams.

Shirley Williams, 73, and Jovan Williams, 39, were shot dead April 21 during an RCMP standoff in Granisle. 

Family can't afford funerals

"The family can't really afford it at this time to cover the funeral costs," Cheslatta Carrier First Nation chief Corinna Leween told CBC during an interview with Daybreak North. "They're struggling with coming up with the money. Financially, they just can't afford it." 

Leween says the Cheslatta will pay for the casket rental, the cremation, a reception with food, travel costs for grieving family members, and whatever else is needed.

Leween says the family believes Shirley had an insurance policy that would cover funeral costs.  

But Leween says officials won't let anyone in to Williams' house to search for insurance papers, because of the ongoing probe of the deaths by the Independent Investigations Office, the civilian agency tasked with investigating serious police-involved incidents. 

IIO investigation delays funerals

Williams' daughter, Shonte Williams, told CBC she hasn't been allowed in to her mother's home to find mementos or photographs for the funeral either, because the house still under the IIO's jurisdiction. She says the IIO has yet to release her mother and brother's bodies for burial.

Leween says it's vital for the IIO to determine why the mother and son died. But she said it's also important to have a funeral.

"You can't take away the sorrow the family is feeling right now.," said the chief.

"Having the funeral service its going to go a long way. Having drumming as well, for the people affected, the drum heals them."

'Disbelief, shock, sorrow'

"There's still a lot of disbelief, shock, and sorrow," said Leween. 

"A 73-year-old woman was gunned down," she said. "She was crippled with arthritis. Jovan had just gone home to look after her. She was a very independent woman, but she couldn't take care of herself like she used to."

"I just really can't see her being a threat to the RCMP," said Leween. "Why did it have to come to two people being shot in the backyard of their home?"

Leween said Shirley Williams was not Indigenous, but worked for years at the community's mill. Jovan Williams was born into the Cheslatta First Nation. "We always support families when there is a loss," said Leween.

She said the Lake Babine First Nation and Carrier Sekanni Family Services are  providing counselling and emotional support to the family.

'It's just not right'

"What we're concentrating on now is the funeral service and the burial," she said. "After that, we'll be following this really closely and gathering support from other First Nations. It's just not right."

Marten Youssef, manager of strategic communications for the IIO, said his agency has no provisions to cover funeral costs for people who die in RCMP-involved shootings. 

The RCMP didn't respond to a request for comment by deadline.

With files from Carolina de Ryk, George Baker, and Daybreak North.