Recent findings, following years of investigation by Brett Forester and CBC Indigenous, have confirmed that the RCMP conducted widespread surveillance of Indigenous leaders and organizations in Canada between the late 1960s and early 1980s. For many Indigenous communities, this confirms what had long been shared through lived experience.
What the records show
Declassified documents show that the RCMP Security Service operated a large intelligence program between 1968 and 1982. Around 150 officers were involved in monitoring hundreds of individuals and more than 30 Indigenous organizations, particularly throughout the 1970s. These organizations included the National Indian Brotherhood (NIB), now known as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), and Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, now called Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
The RCMP used a range of surveillance methods, including informants within organizations, physical observation, photography, travel tracking, media monitoring, and electronic surveillance such as wiretapping offices. These actions were carried out with federal government approval. Many of the groups targeted were engaged in lawful political advocacy, including work related to land claims, treaty rights, and self-determination.
Impact on Indigenous leaders and communities
Accounts from leaders involved in organizations like the Dene Nation provide insight into how this surveillance affected people at the time. There were reports of office break-ins, stolen documents, and suspected phone monitoring. Documents confirm that informants were placed within leadership circles. Some individuals believe there were also efforts to discredit leadership or create internal divisions.
These actions contributed to distrust within organizations and communities. The impact extended beyond political work and affected personal relationships and day-to-day life. Many people who were directly affected have shared that they were not surprised by the findings. Some Indigenous leaders have shared that the effects continue today, including ongoing concerns about privacy and safety.
A longer history of surveillance
This period of RCMP surveillance is part of a much longer history. For generations, information about Indigenous people has been collected through missionary records, the fur trade, treaty systems, Indian status registration, residential schools, hospitals, and federal administration. This information was not neutral. It was often used by the federal government to control and monitor Indigenous communities, including decisions about status, land and services, and to support colonial systems like residential schools and child welfare removals.
Over time, this created extensive records about Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. Many Indigenous leaders who were surveilled in the 1970s were already documented across multiple systems. This pattern has continued in more recent cases. First Nations child welfare advocate Cindy Blackstock was subject to federal government surveillance while leading a human rights case on inequitable funding for First Nations children. Federal departments monitored her activities over several years, including collecting and circulating information from her personal Facebook page. A federal Privacy Commissioner later found that this level of monitoring raised serious concerns about transparency and the collection of personal information.
The case highlights how surveillance can affect Indigenous advocates, particularly those working to challenge government policy. This history helps explain why surveillance by the RCMP was understood by many as a continuation of existing practices rather than an isolated event.
Historical context
The RCMP surveillance program took place during a period of heightened security concerns in Canada. After the October Crisis in 1970, the federal government directed increased attention toward groups considered potential threats. At the same time, Indigenous political movements were expanding throughout the country. Advocacy for land rights and self-determination was becoming more visible and coordinated.
The documents show that these movements were, in some cases, viewed as security risks rather than legitimate political activity. Language used in the files includes terms such as racial intelligence and native extremism, reflecting the colonial attitudes that informed these actions.
Access to the information
Accessing these documents took years. CBC Indigenous journalists, including Brett Forester, faced delays and pushback, including claims of national security despite the records being decades old. After appeals and legal pressure, the documents were released over several years, often with redactions. This process highlights ongoing challenges in accessing government records related to Indigenous history.
Current responses and next steps
The findings have prompted responses from federal leadership and Indigenous organizations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that an apology should be issued, describing the surveillance as a reprehensible practice. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme issued a written statement of regret and has committed to engaging with Indigenous leaders and communities to support dialogue and rebuilding trust.
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has called for an inquiry and apology from the federal government, describing the surveillance as a violation of rights and a continuation of colonial practices. She emphasized that this issue is not only about the past and has raised concerns about how Indigenous opposition to development is characterized today.
There are also growing calls from Indigenous leaders, organizations, and policymakers for a full investigation, public hearings, and the release of additional records that remain undisclosed.
Why this matters
These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how Indigenous political movements have been treated in Canada and connect to ongoing discussions about policing, systemic discrimination, civil liberties, and reconciliation. For many Indigenous communities, this reporting confirms long-standing knowledge and experience, reinforcing the importance of continued efforts toward accountability, transparency, and meaningful change.
Sources
Why Mounties paid 5 informers to spy on Dene leaders: Inside a secret surveillance operation | Radio-Canada.ca | March 26, 2026
RCMP spying on Indigenous leaders ‘troubling’: Minister | The Star
How the RCMP spied on Indigenous organizations — and how we broke the story | CBC News | Mar 24, 2026
RCMP commissioner regrets Indigenous spying program that spanned over a decade | CBC News | Mar 25, 2026
RCMP commissioner regrets Indigenous spying program that spanned over a decade | CBC/Radio-Canada | Mar 25, 2026
AFN calls for inquiry, apology for RCMP surveillance program | APTN News | Mar 26, 2026
The RCMP’s surveillance of Indigenous groups exposes a centuries-long pattern in Canada | The Conversation | April 9, 2026
I-Spy Colonialism: Canada’s History and Ongoing Surveillance of Indigenous People | Yellowhead Institute | April 9, 2026
Cindy Blackstock awarded $20,000 in human rights ruling against Harper Government | UFCW Canada – Canada’s Private
