Final Report

Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec: listening, reconciliation and progress Final report Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec: listening, reconciliation and progress Final report NOTE TO READERS In keeping with the Indigenous languages, the Commission has endeavoured to reconcile the terminology used with the spelling preferred by the Indigenous peoples themselves. As such, the names used to designate the First Nations communities are those used in the Indigenous languages. The same goes for the nations. The unchanging nature of certain Indigenous words (e.g. Inuit) has also been observed. The term First Nations includes the Abénakis, Anishnabek (Algonquins), Atikamekw Nehirowisiw, Eeyou (Cree), Hurons-Wendat, Innus, Malécites, Mi’gmaq, Mohawks and Naskapis. The expression Indigenous peoples designates First Nations and Inuit collectively. Also note that translations of quotations are our own, unless otherwise stated. This publication was drafted following the work of the Public Inquiry Commission on relations between Indigenous Peoples and certain public services in Québec : listening, reconciliation and progress. CREDITS Linguistic revision and translation Versacom Graphic design and formatting La Boîte Rouge VIF Legal deposit – 2019 Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec Library and Archives Canada ISBN: 978-2-550-84787-8 (printed version) ISBN: 978-2-550-84788-5 (PDF version) © Gouvernement du Québec, 2019 This publication, as well as the report’s summary version and the appendices, are available on the Commission’s website at www.cerp.gouv.qc.ca. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS A word from the commissioner �� 7 1� Context for the Commission’s creation �� 11 1.1. Triggering event ................................................................................................................................................. 11 1.2. Regional tensions �� 13 1.3. Far-reaching impact �� 15 1.4. Creation of the Commission ..................................................................................................................... 17 2� Mandate, organization and operational framework �� 21 2.1. The mandate �� 21 2.2. Organization and work carried out �� 23 2.3. Operational framework ............................................................................................................................... 26 PART I - BACKGROUND �� 29 3� The History of Relations with Indigenous Peoples �� 35 3.1. 1850 – 1890 / The imposition of Canadian sovereignty ........................................................................ 36 3.2. 1890 – 1940 / Erasing the Indigenous presence ......................................................................... 44 3.3. 1940 – 1960 / Subjects to administer .................................................................................................. 54 3.4. 1960 – 1970 / A period of change .......................................................................................................... 68 3.5. 1970 – 1990 / Time for affirmation ......................................................................................................... 76 3.6. 1990 – 2001 / Toward self-determination ....................................................................................... 88 4� Indigenous peoples of Québec �� 99 4.1. Sociodemographic portrait .................................................................................................................... 100 4.2. Geopolitical portrait .................................................................................................................................... 106 4.3. The psychosocial and health profile ................................................................................................ 112 4.4. Indigenous people in the justice and correctional systems ............................................ 125 5� Services covered by the Commission’s mandate �� 131 5.1. Police services ................................................................................................................................................. 131 5.2. Justice services ............................................................................................................................................. 143 5.3. Correctional services ................................................................................................................................. 161 5.4. Health and social services ...................................................................................................................... 173 5.5. Youth protection services ...................................................................................................................... 183 PART II - WHAT WE LEARNED FROM OUR PROCEEDINGS �� 197 6� General findings �� 203 6.1. The causes ........................................................................................................................................................ 204 6.2. Key principles for reconciliation ......................................................................................................... 214 6.3. Cross-disciplinary calls for action ..................................................................................................... 216 FINAL REPORT | CERP 5 7� Findings on police services �� 255 7.1. Organization of police services ........................................................................................................... 255 7.2. A past with far-reaching consequences ........................................................................................ 257 7.3. Difficult contexts for police interventions ..................................................................................... 258 7.4. Obstacles to quality service �� 264 7.5. Unadapted police practices .................................................................................................................. 277 7.6. Inadequate recourse ................................................................................................................................... 288 8� Findings on justice services �� 293 8.1. Over-representation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system ......... 293 8.2. A climate of mistrust ................................................................................................................................. 297 8.3. Fundamental incompatibility ............................................................................................................... 299 8.4. Underused diversion and prevention tools ............................................................................... 304 8.5. State justice in need of improvement �� 311 9� Findings on correctional services �� 335 9.1. Over-represented populations ............................................................................................................ 336 9.2. Discrimination in assessments ............................................................................................................ 337 9.3. Geographic distance with adverse consequences ............................................................... 341 9.4. Dilapidated or unsuitable environment ......................................................................................... 347 9.5. Rights and obligations curtailed ........................................................................................................ 349 9.6. Poor access to rehabilitation services and activities .............................................................

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