As Quebec's inquiry into Indigenous relations enters final phase, many question SQ's desire for reconciliation

Quebec's inquiry into Indigenous relations was launched after several women went public in 2015 with allegations thatprovincial police in Val-d'Or, Que., sexually assaulted them and regularly took them on so-called "starlight tours."

Though these women did not testify before the inquiry, many of the nearly 300 people who did sharestories of abuse and mistreatmentcommended theircourage.

"They are aware theymade a difference," saiddithCloutier, who headstheVal-d'OrNative Friendship Centre and hasbeen in contact with the women since the allegations were first made public.

"We remind them how important it was not only for them, for Indigenous women, for Indigenous society, but also for Quebec society as a whole."

But one thing that has not changed, Cloutiersaid, is theSretduQubec's "total denial" of the existence ofsystemic racism within its ranks.

Like Cloutier, many Indigenous figures who testified before the commission expressed concerns about how Quebec police treat Indigenous communities.

As the commission prepares to deliver its final report, they are wondering if the SQ is at all interested in pursuing reconciliation efforts.

Testimony'horrific' at times

The inquiry was called by the previous Liberal government in 2016, amid outcry prompted by the stories of abuse, which were initiallyaired by Radio-Canada.

A retired Quebec judge,JacquesViens, was giventhemandate of examining how Quebec's Indigenous population is treated not only by police, but by public employees in general.

The public-hearingphase lasted 38 weeks and was held mostly inVal-d'Or, though the commission also travelled toMani-Utenam,Mistissini, Montreal,KuujjuaqandKuujjuarapik, in northern Quebec.

In all, the commission heard from 765 people. Of them, 277 testified about their personal encounterswith police,hospital staff and other public services like youth protection and the justice system.

They described how the discrimination they experienced was, in some cases,life-altering. Viensreacted to these stories by calling them"horrific."

During its stop in Kuujjuarapik,Mary Pirti Kumarluktold the commission her son died after health-care workers refused to send him for emergency treatment, even though hehad been struck by an all-terrain vehicle.

They told the34-year-old he was "a strong hunter," Kumarluk said, and didn't need the treatment.

Another man, JohnnyAnautak, described how hewas arrested for breaching bail conditions and as a result was unable to see his motherbefore she died.

Several Indigenous women came forward with stories similar to those heard by Radio-Canada, as well astestifying tobeingmistreatedoreveninjuredwhile in police custody.

"Will the SQ apologize for the way its officers acted?" VivianeMichel, president of Native Women Quebec, asked the commission on Friday.

SQ accused of doing little for reconciliation

Michel was both the first and last person to testify at the hearings. On Friday, she expressed concern the original purpose of the inquiry police treatment of Indigenous women inVal-d'Or would be sidelined by the broad scope of the testimony.

The SQ, she said, stillhas not acknowledged any wrongdoing since the allegations of abuse first surfaced, norhave they taken measures to address the social unrest that ensued.

"They broke the trust with these women. They have the responsibility to fix it," Michelsaid. She called for a complete overhaul of police accountability mechanisms.

In August, the commission heard from a formerSQ officer inVal-d'Orwho said he informedhis superiorof allegations of mistreatment in2013, two years before theRadio-Canada report aired.

"This is really upsettingthat nothing was done," saidRainbow Miller, a lawyer with Native Women Quebec.

"If this were nice little girls fromWestmountwho were assaulted by police andthe complaints went nowhere ifthe public found out, people would have said that doesn't make sense," she testified Friday morning.

Miller askedViensto investigate this particular case or order a separate publicinvestigation.

The head of the SQ in 2015, MartinPrud'homme,testified in Octoberthathe had no indication there were any problems at theVal-d'Ordetachment.

Other top SQ officials who testified refused to condemn officers in Val-d'Or who started wearinga controversial red bandon their uniforms, in support of their colleagues who weresuspended following the allegations aired by Radio-Canada.

The SQ's refusal to order their removal was another blow to the relationship with Indigenous communities, saidWinaSioui, a lawyer with theAssembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), who testified last week.

"[The red bands] were perceived as confrontational, intimidating and offensive, and certainly light years from reconciliation," saidSioui.

Officers onlytook them off in October,when their suspendedcolleagues reached an out-of-court agreement withthe SQ, a moveSiouidescribed as "Indigenous women again being used for someone else'sbenefit."

She also questioned why the SQ did not followthe example of their counterparts in the rest of Canada.

The RCMP presented an apology in frontof the federal inquiryinto missingandmurderedIndigenouswomenandgirls, which also happened towrapupon Friday.

"It's a total miss on that level.That showed us a total refusal to do any introspection work," Siouisaid.

Closing ceremony pays tribute to missing woman

Viensclosed the inquiry by thanking all those who accepted to share their stories, hoping the outcome would allow Indigenous women "to finally feel safe."

"We must recognize the courage of the women who spoke out and who were at the forefront of all this," saidViens,who met privately with some of the women in a sharing circle.

The closing ceremony also acknowledged the crucial role played by another woman in the events that led to the creation of the commission.

SindyRuperhousevanished in 2014.Her disappearance sparked the initial Radio-Canada investigationinto police treatment of Indigenous women inVal-d'Or.

Janet Mark, the commission's coordinator for relations with Indigenous people, led the room into a moment of silence in Ruperhouse'smemory.

"We wanted to recognize the legacySindyleaves behind. Wherever you areSindy,miigwech, thank you."

Viens is expected to table a final report in September, 2019.