Decades later, Anishinabek Nation says it’s time to finally act on Ipperwash Inquiry

The Anishinabek Nation is calling on the Ontario provincial government to implement the recommendations made in the 2007 Ipperwash Inquiry Report. The report produced 100 recommendations and despite the Ontario Provincial Police addressing the 25 policing recommendations, the organization has yet to implement them.

“The Anishinabek Nation has been working on heritage and burials, treaty and public education, but this is often done without the support from Ontario,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige in a press release. “As an organization, we had identified these key recommendations to Ontario, and none were implemented. We are calling on the Ontario government to make a commitment to implement some key recommendations on this 29th anniversary of the shooting death of unarmed land defender Dudley George at Ipperwash.”

The Ipperwash Inquiry included recommendations on land rights, education and policing.

Land rights recommendations included establishing a permanent, independent agency to facilitate the settling of land and treaty claims in Ontario; creating co-management arrangements and resource-sharing initiatives; and working with First Nation organizations to develop policies acknowledging First Nation burial and heritage sites.

The OPP has yet to implement the policing recommendations which include, the federal and provincial governments updating their policies on First Nation policing and recognizing self-administered First Nation police services in Ontario are the primary police service providers in their communities.

The Anishinabek Nation says they remain committed to working with other First Nations, Provincial Organizations, and various government ministries within the Ontario Government to implement the recommendations.

“The Anishinabek Nation will continue to stand up for Anishinabek people every day and on this anniversary. We are putting the Government of Ontario on notice that we need to see movement on these recommendations before the 30th anniversary in 2025,” says Debassige. “We look forward to hearing from Ontario Premier Doug Ford on his commitment to implement these recommendations in the spirit of reconciliation.”