RCMP’s new core values take into account Inuit culture: Nunavut commander
Set of guiding principles updated for 1st time in 25 years
RCMP Chief Supt. Andrew Blackadar, commanding officer of the force’s Nunavut division, poses in Iqaluit with a copy of its updated core values. (Photo by Corey Larocque)
The RCMP commander in Nunavut has signed the service’s updated core values, which he says will bring the local force more in line with community needs and culture.
Earlier this year, RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme asked all commanding officers to sign the service’s renewed core values and to display them.
The values are:
- Act with integrity;
- Show respect;
- Demonstrate compassion;
- Take responsibility;
- Serve with excellence.
Nunavut Chief Supt. Andrew Blackadar explained in an interview April 15 how officers will integrate them into their work in the North.
He noted that while these guiding principles are being implemented nationally, they will be instituted in local ways. In Nunavut, they will be brought in line with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or IQ principles, which are the societal values by which the Inuit live.
For example, the IQ principle of Inuuqatigiittiarniq means “respecting others, relationships and caring for people.”
“So it’s about relationships and caring for people and showing respect,” Blackadar said. “Being open, welcoming and inclusive and demonstrating compassion [which] falls within our renewed core values.”
The core value of showing respect aligns with the IQ principle of Tunnganarniq, which means “fostering good spirits by being open, welcoming and inclusive,” Blackadar said.
He added the new values also take into account the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, as well as the calls to action that stem from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls final report, and reconciliation in general.
“We’re also taking into account the LGBTQ community,” Blackadar said.
He cited cultural education as a key part of implementing the renewed core values.
Nunavut RCMP has a cultural advisory committee which meets quarterly with representatives from the majority of communities in the territory.
Police also meet regularly with elders and other community groups. Part of that programming includes something Blackadar called mental health first aid, but tailored for the North.
“One of the things that I’ll be asking them to help me out with is to give that education to our police officers,” Blackadar said.
The RCMP’s list of core values has not been updated in 25 years. The new list was introduced by former RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki.
“Everything that we do in the community is built on trust,” Blackadar said.
“If we don’t have trust, then we don’t have respect. And if we don’t have respect, it is hard to do our job within the community.”
Forget whitewashing, pinkwashing, and greenwashing. We’re about thin blue line washing. When cops hit Kinngait people with cars, they’ll think about Inuit values.
70 years ago the rcmp put dog rabid or suspected rabid dogs. 70 years ago.
Great to see Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit included. Another important step would be to increases use of Inuktitut.
This framed document about community engagement should be also in Inuktitut.
Why?
It is a document for use nationally. It is only natural that the two federal official languages would be used. It is not a Nunavut specific document – it if were you would have a point.
Also, don’t you mean Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun? If it were going to have territorial languages on it, shouldn’t it have all of them?
That copy of the document is being displayed and used in Nunavut in part for community outreach.
Inuktitut is the mother tongue of the majority of Nunavumiut and Inuinnaqtun
This should have been implemented before coming up to what we now call nunavut. Before they forced us into settlements and slaying the huskies. And while the priests and nuns were violently punishing inuit for speaking inuktitut or holding a carved toy.
“Before they forced us into settlements and slaying the huskies.”
Can someone please explain all the revisionist history being spouted lately?
Inuit spent two million dollars on a “Truth Commission” that showed the above statement to be complete bullsh1t.
Can you point us to the reading on this?
An organization’s Core Values only matter if the people on the front-line believe and embrace them. Otherwise they’re just words on paper.
Precisely. A perfect example being how the gn and Inuit orgs ignore IQ.
IQ values are very broad, sweeping statements that are easy to interpret into policy. Yet that same broad applicability, the same generality, makes them invisible and easy to ignore.
And not specific to Inuit or Nunavut. They are general principles that every modern society aspires to. Just as you don’t have to be religious to adhere to the 10 Commandments, it’s just about being a good, law abiding person.
There’s something insulting, almost condescending, to Inuit and IQ. I would love to know how it was developed and by who. Almost like it’s telling Inuit that is who you are and what you believe.
Those retired police officers now live in a nice part of British Columbia. Away from inuit settlements and Indian res. Oh yeah. You heard that right. The old cops that slayed dogs still live today. They should be justified too. Inhumane acts against working dogs.
The dogs they killed were sick and diseased. Nobody should care about that anyway seeing as how we treat dogs up here anyway . Must be Thousands of dogs slaughtered every year in Nunavut alone nowadays
How about just adhering to the Criminal Code of Canada, instead of constantly crying…
RCMP in Nunavut have one of the toughest jobs in the world.
Different language, different culture, the isolation just to name a few.
Then having to deal with inter generational trauma, and the mental health crisis to boot.
Honestly it might be good our territorial government leaders declare a state of emergency to try and address the mental health crisis. Nunavutmiut are still taking their lives at up wards of 10 times the national average and it is because the are not enough resources.
If the Government declared an emergency it would give them additional powers and force the federal government to allocate more resources to the territory to tackle the mental health crisis.
How would sending more cops improve mental health?
Note that I’m not disagreeing with the intergenerational trauma, suicide rates, and mental health crises points.
Its a problem we need to deal with for sure; but that’s not going to be solved with more police
Umm, the territorial government has next to zero ability to ‘force’ the federal government to do anything. They can certainly make requests – which are granted or not.
Yes, that is true. The RCMP has the authority to request more manpower, but it’s important to understand that the Government of Nunavut also funds the RCMP to increase the number of police in communities with high crime rates.
While I have respect for the RCMP, it’s crucial to remember that mutual respect is essential for a successful relationship between the police and the community they serve. I myself have had first-hand experiences with police in white shirts who believe they are superior and should be treated as such. It’s important for all police officers, including those in leadership positions, to undertake cultural awareness training and adhere to the IQ principles while serving to protect the Nunavumiut.
When you act like an animal you get treated like one. How many times are there active shooters that lockdown Iqaluit? How many times have they not been Inuk?
“The RCMP’s list of core values has not been updated in 25 years.”
So, what was wrong with the old core values?
[Honesty, Integrity, Professionalism, Compassion, Accountability and Respect].
Looks the same to me – only they got rid of honesty?!! 🤔🤷🏻♂️😮🤯