Rick Williams, tribal name Touthli (translation: Lone Wolf), demands justice from the Seattle Police Department (SPD) after a Seattle policeman shot his brother and fellow artist John T Williams on 30th August 2010. The brothers are members of the Ditidaht First Nation, also members of the nation of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth, both master wood carvers exponents of totem art as is their family tradition. Rick Williams brother John T Williams who was hard of hearing with cognitive impairments was fatally shot allegedly four times by a Seattle police officer after being ordered to drop an artists legal short sized folding wood caving knife he was holding with the wood sculpting material and did not drop it in the time allowed by the officer. Seattle, WA, USA, 1st October 2010
footnote:
It is a custom and a common practice for Native Americans to be carving wood on the streets of Seattle, a city that has a sizable creative indigenous population. First Nation Tribal Americans often carry around short bladed wood caving knives in Seattle. Indeed Seattle is named in honor of an Indian Chief Seattle (Si'ahl) of the Suquamish tribe.
"Even the rocks that seem to lie dumb as they swelter in the sun along the silent seashore in solemn grandeur thrill with memories of past events connected with the fate of my people.."Chief Seattle
Date: 01/10/2010
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
