Secwepemc Elder William Jones Ignace, also known as Wolverine, died early Tuesday.

Wolverine was one of the indigenous land defenders at the historic 1995 Gustafsen Lake standoff.

His family told press he had been sick with cancer for some time and had been declining since December.

Wolverine passed at his Adams Lake Indian Band home on Secwepemc territory.

He was 84 years old.

The Secwepemc Elder appealed recently in a letter to the federal government to open a national inquiry on the level of force used by the RCMP during the 31-day confrontation at Gustafsen Lake.

The RCMP launched 400 armed officers against 20 indigenous land defenders who said they were protecting sacred lands.

Wolverine spent five years in prison for his part in the events at Gustafsen Lake.