G-011 conventionDeclaration detailLevel http://ica-atom.org/doc/RS-2#5.4 Minimal corporateBody Royal Canadian Mounted Police conventionDeclaration RCMP conventionDeclaration

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) serves as Canada’s national police force. Originally founded as the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1873, the Government of Canada used the NWMP to exercise Canadian law in the west, to ensure easy settlement by settlers, to facilitate in the collection of custom duties, and to interact with Indigenous Peoples. In this role, the NWMP were often used to enforce Canadian Government policy regarding Indigenous Peoples, including arresting those who had violated the Indian Act and other laws, patrolling Indigenous communities, and enforcing laws that were intended to keep Indigenous Peoples on reserves such as the pass system.

As part of their role, the NWMP and later the RCMP interacted with the Residential Schools System, pupils, and their families and communities in a wide variety of ways. During the period of the operation of the schools the force’s involvement included assisting Indian agents and school officials in bringing children to the schools and bringing back children who had run away from these schools, and investigating complaints about possible criminal conduct by students and staff at the schools. They were also involved in health measures including quarantine, which could involve schools at times. As the Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba, notes: “The police were responsible for moving Indians to reserves and for keeping them there, and they were intimately involved in administering treaties and Indian affairs generally. Whenever an Indian agent felt the need for assistance in enforcing government policy regarding Indian people, he called upon the Mounted Police. Indian children who ran away from residential schools were sought and returned by NWMP officers.”

74a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) "The Role of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police During the Indian Residential School System" Star Blanket