The head of the Métis National Council expressed disappointment with the RCMP’s handling of a surveillance initiative that targeted numerous Indigenous individuals. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme issued a statement of remorse following a CBC Indigenous investigation that uncovered nearly 6,000 newly declassified documents detailing extensive surveillance by the Mounties against Indigenous leaders and groups dating back to the late 1960s.
Métis National Council (MNC) president Victoria Pruden described the espionage program as troubling but not entirely unexpected given the historically turbulent relationship between the Métis Nation and the RCMP. Pruden viewed Duheme’s statement as an initial step, emphasizing the necessity for a formal public apology accompanied by concrete actions.
Highlighting the breach of trust between the Métis community and the Canadian government, Pruden stressed the importance of transparency regarding past events and assurance regarding current practices. The RCMP expressed its commitment to engaging with Indigenous leadership for healing and building stronger relationships but stopped short of committing to a public apology.
Pruden called for the Canadian government, as the RCMP’s funder, to be actively involved in restitution efforts, suggesting that a formal apology from the prime minister would be well received. She emphasized the need for clarity on past occurrences and current assurances to rebuild trust.
In a related development, Public Safety Minister Mark Carney acknowledged the need for a public apology for the Indigenous spying program. The minister’s office stated that discussions with national Indigenous organizations were ongoing, with plans to meet Indigenous leadership and individuals affected by surveillance to ensure accountability and discuss next steps.
The extensive CBC Indigenous investigation revealed that the RCMP Security Service conducted covert surveillance, utilized informants, and engaged in countersubversion activities against First Nations, Inuit, and Métis rights movements. The call for public apologies and an inquiry into Indigenous surveillance, along with the disclosure of remaining records, has been echoed by Pruden and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak.
Library and Archives Canada estimated that there are 300 to 400 related files containing potentially up to 100,000 pages. Woodhouse Nepinak expressed concern about the potential ongoing surveillance of Indigenous leaders. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) affirmed its commitment to collaborating with the RCMP to implement shared priorities aimed at rebuilding trust with Inuit communities following past violations.
The ongoing efforts to address the harm caused by the surveillance program underscore the commitment to reconciliation and trust-building with Indigenous communities.