The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has acknowledged that its past investigations involving Indigenous individuals have led to lingering distrust, but officials within the organization assert that efforts are being made to rectify the situation.
During a recent meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Ottawa, two CSIS officials, speaking anonymously, emphasized to CBC Indigenous that the era of the agency’s broad “Native extremism” initiative, which categorized Indigenous activists as domestic extremists and potential terrorists during extensive nationwide probes, is a thing of the past.
The officials highlighted a shift in approach, where the agency is working to rebuild trust and collaborate with groups such as the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. This new strategy, initiated in 2022 with outreach to Inuit leaders amid concerns of foreign interference in the North, marks a departure from the previous intelligence-collecting stance to one of information sharing.
Despite these efforts, the officials noted that progress in engaging with First Nations has been slow, with ongoing challenges in fostering trust. Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, a prominent Kanien’kehá:ka activist, remains skeptical of CSIS’s purported transformation, citing past surveillance and labeling of Indigenous individuals as criminals or terrorists.
CSIS officials underscored a commitment to partnership with organizations like the Assembly of First Nations but acknowledged difficulties in establishing meaningful connections. The agency’s outreach efforts have yet to yield significant results, with some grassroots activists expressing reservations about the effectiveness of engaging with national advocacy groups.
The shift in CSIS’s approach is attributed to several factors over the past decade, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s reconciliation agenda, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the influence of late Indigenous leader Murray Sinclair. Recent events, such as the global reckoning on racism following George Floyd’s murder and the discovery of unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, have also played a role in shaping CSIS’s evolving stance.
While CSIS officials highlight their alignment with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a progressive step, Gabriel points out the absence of formal apologies, transparency, and guarantees against regression into past practices. She remains critical of the agency’s actions and insists on accountability for past wrongdoings.
In summary, while CSIS is striving to mend relations with Indigenous communities and adopt more inclusive policies, skepticism and calls for genuine accountability persist among activists and advocates like Ellen Gabriel.