Sorry seems to be the slowest word
Federal government and RCMP owe Indigenous leaders an apology for spying, and the sooner, the better
Recent reporting by the CBC reveals the extent to which the RCMP spied on hundreds of Indigenous activists in the 1970s. Prime Minister Carney called it “reprehensible,” but has not yet offered a formal apology on the federal government’s behalf. (File photo)
For a government that brags about how fast it moves when it comes to nation-building projects, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals have been slow to offer an apology for the RCMP’s spying on Indigenous leaders in the 1960s and 1970s.
It has been more than a week since many Canadians learned — thanks to reporting by a team of CBC journalists — how extensively the RCMP kept tabs on hundreds of Indigenous activists 50 years ago.
John Amagoalik, considered the “Father of Nunavut,” and Tagak Curley, another key figure in the creation of Nunavut, are among the names that show up in 6,000 pages of documents CBC obtained by using Canada’s access to information law.
In the late 1960s, the RCMP’s Native Extremism Section started keeping tabs on First Nations, Métis and Inuit activists and organizations, looking for the influence of radical groups.
It started with the National Indian Brotherhood, the forerunner to the Assembly of First Nations. But it later extended to Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, founded in 1971, the predecessor of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, now the national voice for Inuit.
In some cases, it sounds like the Mounties weren’t necessarily very good at the cloak-and-dagger stuff. Curley, then the president of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, told Nunatsiaq News this week he was “very conscious” he was under surveillance, especially at airports.
Carney last week called the spying “reprehensible” and said a formal apology is in order.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also expressed his “sincere regret” on behalf of the national police force.
So where is the apology? With Carney and Duheme in agreement, it shouldn’t take long.
Keep in mind this is not news to the government. Most Canadians found out about it through CBC’s in-depth reporting. But the government has known for years this story would break, because it fought the CBC in court over whether the documents should be released. Curley even asked the RCMP about it point blank in the 1980s, as an MLA in the legislature.
“They could not deny it,” he recalls of the exchange.
Carney’s recent work overseas, shoring up support with allies and forging new trade deals with India and China, is vitally important to Canada at the moment.
But it would also be appropriate for the prime minister to pause his jet-setting long enough to formally apologize for this mistake the government made decades ago.
Naturally, the question of compensation has surfaced. But how do you put a dollar figure on the invasion of someone’s privacy and violation of their human rights based on their race?
There should be some financial compensation for the egregious overstepping by the RCMP and its political masters. Maybe the compensation shouldn’t be made directly to the people who were spied on, but instead perhaps lump sum payments to Indigenous organizations to help them further their work.
The model the government used to give $45 million to Makivvik Corp., as part of its apology for the killing of sled dogs in Nunavik in the 1950s and 1960s, could work.
The spy story is one more sad episode in Canada’s treatment of Indigenous Peoples.
Thanks to the CBC, both Canadians and their government have been forced to acknowledge the truth and extent of the spying. Now, it’s necessary to atone for it.
Too bad , Justin won t be there to apologize and throw in some crocodile tears .
You’re obsessed with him, I bet you have a poster size picture of him on your bedroom ceiling!
What’s the point. It will be meaning less. No need to apologize for doing your job.
The practice of surveillance still exists today through crown corporations monitoring indigenous communities. When I worked with the RCMP, they stated that the current contemporary undercover operations were to ensure police could acknowledge and confirm criminality was ongoing, and that monitoring groups were more contributory to their activity. It feels wrong, yet it continues as it has been the most beneficial practice to their organization in their quest for public support
What was the criminal activity people like Curely, Amagualik and Tagoona doing?
I’m trying to find the old media articles where Tagak and NN have demanded that RCMP surveillance of any Canadian to be ceased and for apologies to be issued for that surveillance
Think back if your old enough to the 70s and the civil unrest that was on going. Prior to that the 60s with political assasination. And the events off today. Law enforcement is much more than reaction to events but preventing events before they happen. Not only are indigenous caught up in these events but many innocent groups. But if things do erupted the enforcers had not taken preemptive actions there would be a call for apologies. Anyone who judges history in hindsight without considering the context of the real time is appalled.
RCMP apologizes for their former colleague’s misconduct, misdeeds and many descendents, enforcement of relocations. Apologies are not enough!! Inuit have oral history and the stories are terrible about RCMP serving in the arctic.
I’d appreciate NN to get Tagak’s view on federal Bill C-22; maybe offer its own view
It would have been more surprising if we had learned that Indigenous leaders were NOT under surveillance during the time period in question. The job of police and agencies such as CSIS is not only to investigate crimes that have been committed, but also to prevent crimes from being committed. Given the political climate of the time, including the activities of AIM in the USA, the RCMP would have been remiss in performing their duties to the nation if they did not conduct surveillance of dissident political groups, religious groups, many special interest groups, and indigenous organizations and leaders. No real story there.
Another safe, boring editorial…