The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has acknowledged the historical impact of its investigations into Indigenous communities, which has resulted in enduring mistrust. However, officials from the spy agency have asserted that they are working towards improving their practices.
During a recent meeting at the CSIS headquarters in Ottawa, two officials, speaking anonymously, conveyed that the agency has moved away from its previous “Native extremism” program. This program, active in the 1990s, involved categorizing Indigenous activists as domestic extremists and potential terrorists through extensive nationwide probes.
The officials emphasized that the current landscape differs significantly from the past. Declassified documents have revealed the escalation of intrusive Indigenous surveillance programs between 1988 and 1999, including involvement in the Ipperwash and Gustafsen Lake standoffs in 1995. Analysts have criticized the program for its overreach and bias.
In an effort to rebuild trust, CSIS has adopted a new approach focused on collaboration with Indigenous organizations like the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. This initiative began in 2022 with outreach to Inuit leaders to address concerns regarding foreign interference in the North.
Previously, CSIS would have employed an intelligence-gathering strategy, but now they prioritize information sharing. However, progress in establishing connections with First Nations has been slow, with increased expressions of mistrust reported by the officials.
Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, a Kanien’kehá:ka activist, remains skeptical about CSIS’s ability to change. She highlighted past instances of surveillance and questioned the agency’s motives in engaging with national Indigenous organizations over grassroots activists.
Despite CSIS’s efforts to engage with Indigenous groups and adapt to changing societal dynamics, Gabriel underscored the absence of an apology, voluntary transparency, and guarantees against reverting to previous practices. She emphasized the need for accountability and acknowledgment of past wrongdoings by the intelligence service.
CSIS officials cited various factors prompting their shift in approach, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s reconciliation efforts, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and societal reckonings with racism following significant events like the murder of George Floyd and the discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools.
While CSIS officials highlighted their commitments under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, Gabriel emphasized that without accountability and genuine remorse, the agency’s actions remain unacceptable.