RCMP racism, misogyny and pro-industry bias must be addressed to stop the criminalization of Indigenous land defenders

The impartiality of state institutions and the upholding of human rights obligations towards Indigenous land defenders are crucial elements in making space for peace both globally and on Indigenous territories within Canada.

In February 2015, The Globe and Mail reported on an RCMP intelligence assessment—dated January 24, 2014—obtained by Greenpeace Canada.

That article notes: “The report extolls the value of the oil and gas sector to the Canadian economy, and adds that many environmentalists ‘claim’ that climate change is the most serious global environmental threat, and ‘claim’ it is a direct consequence of human activity and is ‘reportedly’ linked to the use of fossil fuels.”

Earlier this year, the Canadian Press also reported that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had called for the RCMP and other security and police to withdraw from Wet’suwet’en traditional lands.

The UN further stated that the construction of the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline on those lands should be stopped until the megaproject had the free, prior and informed consent of the Wet’suwet’en peoples.

At that time, the RCMP stated: “We want to emphasize that we are impartial in this dispute and our priority is to facilitate a dialogue between the various stakeholders involved.” And yet within weeks, 22 Wet’suwet’en land defenders and supporters had been arrested during a militarized RCMP invasion of their unceded territories.

And now, APTN reporter Angel Moore reports: “A former criminal intelligence analyst for the RCMP who reported that an energy project in New Brunswick was up against ‘violent Aboriginal extremists’ was also the administrator of a Facebook group which featured current and former Mounties, at times, making racist and disparaging remarks about Indigenous Peoples. For six years Tim O’Neil’s duties included putting together reports for the top brass at the RCMP on issues including threats to energy projects in Canada by Indigenous groups or environmental organizations.”

One of the reports written by this RCMP analyst was titled: Criminal Threats to the Canadian Petroleum Industry.

In reference to that report, Elsipogtog land and water protector Lorraine Clair says: “Criminal threats to the Canadian petroleum industry. Criminal threats… and we were criminals now because we are defending our land, we’re protecting our water we’re you know defending our children’s and grandchildren’s inherent right, really?”

Clair adds: “This guy is smearing pretty well every Aboriginal movement that has occurred to defend land, water and what do you call it, treaty rights they are not even stating this is why we are doing it you know we are defending our rights.”

Furthermore, former Supreme Court justice Michel Bastarache told a House of Commons committee yesterday about his ‘Broken Dreams, Broken Lives’ report that documented a toxic, misogynistic culture in the RCMP.

Bastarache wrote in his report: “The level of violence and sexual assault that was reported was shocking. Indeed, over 130 claimants disclosed penetrative sexual assaults. Other claimants described a sexualized environment in RCMP workplaces. This was characterized by the frequent use of swear words and highly degrading expressions that reference women’s bodies, sexual jokes, innuendoes, discriminatory comments with respect to the abilities of women and unwelcome sexual touching.”

Mi’kmaq lawyer Pam Palmater has also noted: “The report details how the RCMP treated Indigenous women even more poorly than other women. In addition to the humiliating and degrading behaviours experienced by other women in the RCMP, Indigenous women were also referred to as ‘squaw’ and ‘smoked meat’ and ‘were, at times, forced to watch RCMP members treat other Indigenous people brutally’.”

Palmater has also written: “The only way we are ever going to stop RCMP racism and brutality against Indigenous peoples is to declassify, deconstruct and defund the institution itself. … Anything less will result in continued police racism and brutality and the loss of more Black and Indigenous lives.”

Globally, violence by state security forces against environmental human rights defenders is recognized as a serious impediment to their work and safety.

For instance, a recent PBI-Honduras report noted: “The National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Honduras explains that in Honduras 70% of the attacks against women defenders the aggressors are state security forces, especially police or the military.”

PBI-Canada supports the call for an end to state violence and stands with land defenders, water protectors and environmental human rights defenders.