Statement
Statement from the RCMP Commissioner
March 25, 2026
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Ottawa, Ontario
From: RCMP National Headquarters
On this page
Content
On behalf the RCMP, I want to begin by affirming my deep personal commitment to Indigenous communities and Indigenous leaders across Canada. I recognize that trust in institutions is shaped by lived experience and history, and that those experiences continue to shape our relationships today. This reality must ground how we listen, how we learn, and how we act.
The RCMP acknowledges the recent reporting concerning surveillance activities involving Indigenous groups during the 1960s and 1970s. We recognize the serious concerns that this history continues to raise for Indigenous peoples, families, and communities across Canada. I express sincere regret, and while we cannot change the past, we can and must acknowledge that these actions and their impact continue to be felt today.
The RCMP remains committed to building trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities, organizations and governments across Canada. Contributing to the safety and well-being of Indigenous communities is a priority for the RCMP; one that is grounded in respect, humility, and the understanding that trust must be continuously earned through our actions, not our words. This includes creating space for Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems, and perspectives to shape how we deliver policing in ways that reflect community priorities.
The RCMP today is not the same organization it was decades ago, but I acknowledge that more must be done. We have reflected on those past actions and continue to learn from them. Systemic racism has no place in the RCMP. Our values, oversight, training, and approaches to community engagement have evolved, guided by a commitment to respect, accountability, and service. This evolution is part of our ongoing journey of reconciliation, where we embrace the principle of 'Nothing about us, without us' and work to ensure First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices, perspectives, and advice guide new and innovative ways of working together.
As part of this commitment, I want to publicly affirm our intent to host a meeting with Elders and Indigenous leadership, jointly with Minister Anandasangaree. This meeting is an opportunity to listen, to reflect, and to discuss pathways towards healing and stronger relationships. We approach this engagement with humility and a genuine desire to move forward together. Our focus will be on listening, responding constructively, and ensuring that this dialogue continues to inform how we strengthen our policies and practices going forward.
Reconciliation requires confronting difficult truths and accepting our shared responsibility to move forward. The RCMP remains committed to this ongoing work, alongside Indigenous peoples, to help shape a stronger, more respectful future across Canada.