Confronting Racism and Over-Incarceration of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Canada has had a long-standing problem with both societal and institutional racism against Indigenous peoples, especially within the justice system. Numerous national inquiries, commissions, and investigations have all concluded that every level of the justice system has failed Indigenous peoples. More recent inquiries indicate that racism against Indigenous peoples is particularly problematic in police forces in Canada. Yet, despite the evidence, little has been done in Canada to act on the recommendations. This has resulted in the over-incarceration of Indigenous peoples, numerous deaths of Indigenous peoples in police custody, and the national crisis of thousands of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. This article reviews past studies, commissions, inquiries, and reports, discusses setbacks during the previous Harper administration, and implores the current Trudeau administration to implement the TRC’s Calls to Action.