A History of the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police

As the North American continent began to experience ever increasing numbers of settlers from other nations, there occurred a great deal of cultural change, and along with it, instances of lawlessness, violence, and the tendency for native peoples to be forcibly removed from their naitve land, and along with the georgraphic move came a loss of identity, traditions and culture. From this chaos emerged in Canada a law enformcement organziation that was hearty enough to brave the unknown territories and do whatever it took to deliver justice and maintain peace.

For well over a century, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has served a vital function across the vast expanse of Canada, and has had an impact beyond her borders. To be more specific, the Northwest Mounted Police have played pivotal roles in terms of influencing Canadian culture, putting a fingerprint on the native peoples of Canada, and continues to have an indentifiable impact in the 21st century. This paper will explore the various facets which have encompassed the hsitory of the RCMP as well as the NWMP.

Activities of the NWMP in the Context of Relations with Native Peoples

The native peoples of Canada, it must be understood, are unique in many respects. Unlike their American neighbors to the south, who tend to want to blend into one culture and become as one, the native peoples of Canada have traditionally sought to maintain their unique traditions, culture and heritage . Because of this, in many instances, there have been attempts to try to undermine these unique cultures and force the kind of homogenization that other nations have done through persuasion, coercion, or force. To the credit of the NWMP, the organization has never had an official or unofficial policy of using force to try and dislodge native peoples from their lands. It would be more accurate to say that the NWMP has used attrition to reduce the numbers of native peoples; by using a "hands off" policy, the advance of disease into the native cultures, many of whom had not embraced modern medical techniques, thinned their populations remarkably .

There are as well many occasions when the NWMP has conducted activities in the aid of the native peoples; in the early 1800s, Canada found itself in the midst of a problem. There was a huge advantage, financial and otherwise, in enticing the white settlers to build communities in Canada; their ability to turn natural resources into marketable products was an obvious source of potential wealth for the Canadian government. On the other hand, there was an obligation to the native peoples of Canada, such as various indian tribes and the like. Rather than betray the native people and ignite a sort of civil war, the NWMP, at the direction of the Canadian Prime Minister, sought to smooth relations between white settlers and the native peoples . In this way, the NWMP served a vital peacekeeping role and helped to facilitate effective economic progress for a developing nation. By the late 1870s, treaties with many of the native groups and the Canadian government allowed for peaceful progress, proving the worth of the NWMP as an effective force to maintain order, rather than just a strong arm organization.

Skilled as they proved to be in peaceful resolution of complicated social and political issues, armed conflict was not foreign to the NWMP. In 1874, the NWMP focused its efforts on what is today southern Alberta, in an effort to locate Fort Whoopup, a complex of illegal whiskey producers whose regard for the law and peace of Canada was all but absent. While the infamous Fort Whoopup was abandoned by the time that the force had reached it, the message was clearly sent out that the NWMP was around for the long haul, and lawlessness would no longer be tolerated by native or relocated Canadians alike (Grant, 1988).

Fairly stated, the NWMP, in regard to the various native peoples of Canada, effectively proved in its early days that it could be compassionate and helpful, but if provoked or called to action, could likewise use force to maintain the common good. With this balance in mind, it is important to better understand how the Mounties, as they eventually came to be known, functioned in regard to Aboriginal civilization and culture.
Mounties as a Colonizing Agent or Suppressors of Aboriginal Culture and Way of Life

Research indicates that despite the effectiveness of the Mounties, and their solid reputation in some respects, their interactions throughout history with the Aborigines has been less than impressive, and, some say, is the equivelant of apartheid. The suppression and control of the Aboriginal people had its roots in racial bias; because of their red skin, Eskimo-like features, and unique cultures and traiditons, the Aborigines were ostracized by other races; furthermore, tragically, these individuals were decimated by widespread disease. Ironically, history repreated itself in Canada when these groups were passed over for medical attention in times of need, with the NWMP doing little to assist them .
Mounties as an Instrument of Nation Building
Summary

References

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