RCMP must improve Indigenous relations: head

The head of Canada’s national police force apologized to the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women Monday while pledging improved relations with Aboriginal communities.

“On behalf of myself and my organization, I’m truly sorry for the loss of your loved ones and the pain that this has caused you and your families and your communities,” RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki testified in Regina at the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.

“I’m sorry that for too many of you, the RCMP was not the police service that it needed to be during this terrible time in your life. It is very clear to me that the RCMP could have done better and I promise to you we will do better.”

The inquiry has been holding hearings for more than a year, and time and again stories have surfaced of police not taking the cases of missing Indigenous women seriously. Victims were frequently seen to be written off by investigators as sex trade workers or addicts.

Lucki said the RCMP has made changes to its cadet training curriculum to include more Indigenous material.

One of the added modules includes a scenario involving an 18-year-old Indigenous woman whose back story is constructed from testimony heard at the inquiry.

Lucki said she wants the cadets to get exposure to those situations.