Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has stated it would require nearly four years to consult on a request to access 50-year-old secret records from an RCMP program that surveilled Indigenous groups labeled as “Native extremism.” Crown lawyers indicated that consultations with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) were necessary to prevent the potential disclosure of sensitive information that could endanger national security. The inquiry began in 2022 when a reporter sought access to files created by the RCMP Security Service that monitored Indigenous individuals in the 1970s. After filing multiple Access to Information requests, the reporter was informed that LAC needed 1,398 days to consult with CSIS. Following a complaint to Canada’s Information Commissioner about the unreasonable delay, the LAC ultimately expedited the review and released the requested documents in late 2025, which are now accessible online. The files reveal the RCMP’s extensive use of surveillance tactics against Indigenous organizations over several decades.
Why It Matters
The release of these documents is significant as it sheds light on the historical surveillance of Indigenous communities by Canadian law enforcement, a practice that has shaped relations between Indigenous peoples and the state. The files confirm allegations of state-sponsored monitoring and infiltration of Indigenous rights organizations, which have long been a point of contention and concern among Indigenous activists and communities. This context is essential for understanding ongoing discussions about state accountability, transparency, and the need for reconciliation in Canada, particularly in light of historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. The information may also prompt further inquiries into the extent of state surveillance and its implications for Indigenous rights and freedoms.
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