John Joseph "J.J." Harper (December 30, 1951 – March 9, 1988) was a Canadian aboriginal leader from Wasagamack, Manitoba, who was shot and killed by Winnipeg police constable Constable Robert Cross on March 9, 1988.[1] That event, along with the murder of Helen Betty Osborne, sparked the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.[2]
John Joseph Harper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | John Joseph Harper 30 December 1951 Wasagamack, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | 9 March 1988 (aged 36) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Children | 3 |
During an altercation between Police and Harper, Cross shot and killed Harper. It was initially ruled an accident; however, a strong public outcry lead to the Native American Justice Inquiry. The inquiry eventually concluded that Cross had used excessive force in the fatal confrontation.[3]
Personal life
editHarper was a member of the Wasagamack First Nation. He was also executive director of the Island Lake Tribal Council and a leader in Manitoba's indigenous community. He and his wife Lois had three children together.[4] On August 2, 2008, over 20 years after Harper was killed,[5] his nephew Craig McDougall was also shot and killed by Winnipeg Police.[6]
Legacy
editHarper's shooting was described in a 1999 book, Cowboys & Indians: The Killing of J.J. Harper, written by Winnipeg Free Press columnist Gordon Sinclair Jr., and later a 2003 television movie by the same name. It was directed by Norma Bailey and starred Adam Beach as Harper.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Inquiry needed into police violence against Indigenous peoples". Canadian Dimension. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ Sawatzky, Wendy (2003-03-07). "J.J. Harper: 15 Years Later". CBC News. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "The recent past". The City of Winnipeg. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "The Death of John Joseph Harper". The Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "McDougall inquest delayed after witness changes account of police shooting". CBC News. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "'Police shot JJ Harper's nephew'". CTV News. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story, Internet Movie Database