Canadians perpetuate the idea Mounties are just friendly good guys in red suits from up north...
... Like they’re the Santa Claus of policing.
In reality, it’s an insane and insulting portrayal.
Here’s 3 things the RCMP is historically known for.
<thread> 👇
... Like they’re the Santa Claus of policing.
In reality, it’s an insane and insulting portrayal.
Here’s 3 things the RCMP is historically known for.
<thread> 👇
2/ The RCMP was founded as the NWMP in 1873, to ensure white Canadians could move West with “minimal” blood shed.
They originally enforced an apartheid-like system. They were to arrest First Nations people that didn’t stay on land designated by 🇨🇦.
They originally enforced an apartheid-like system. They were to arrest First Nations people that didn’t stay on land designated by 🇨🇦.
3/ That brings us to our first stop, the pass system. By 1885, RCMP’s “Indian agents” would require First Nations to have documents stating they could leave the reserve.
No papers? You were arrested. Reserves were essentially turned into open air prisons.
No papers? You were arrested. Reserves were essentially turned into open air prisons.
4/ This might sound familiar if you’ve been following me for a while. It’s because I described a similar system in South Africa on a thread about diamonds.
First Nations required permission to move even from one reserve to another. This happened until 1940.
First Nations required permission to move even from one reserve to another. This happened until 1940.
5/ Canada restricted First Nations from going into towns, unless approved, essentially enforcing a form of segregation.
Officially, the pass system never existed legally.
According to the documentary @thepasssystem, they destroyed most records of this during the 1950s.
Officially, the pass system never existed legally.
According to the documentary @thepasssystem, they destroyed most records of this during the 1950s.
6/ Next, residential schools. The RCMP held abduct First Nations kids, and sent them to forced education camps to “kill the Indian in the child."
These kids were often subjects in humane treatment, and abused.
The last federally operated residential school only closed in 1996.
These kids were often subjects in humane treatment, and abused.
The last federally operated residential school only closed in 1996.
7/ Third. They were used to round up “undesirable” immigrants.
During ‘40s, innocent Japanese-Canadians were rounded up, had their property stolen, and were sent to interment or sent as forced labor.
Canada didn’t have slavery though, *wink, wink*
During ‘40s, innocent Japanese-Canadians were rounded up, had their property stolen, and were sent to interment or sent as forced labor.
Canada didn’t have slavery though, *wink, wink*
8/ Those that didn’t were rounded up by the RCMP and sent to a barbed wire detention facility... with actual foreign soldiers.
Keep in mind these Japanese-Canadians literally did nothing wrong. They were just rounded up by the red jackets.
Keep in mind these Japanese-Canadians literally did nothing wrong. They were just rounded up by the red jackets.
9/ Now, those are just three of their primary role in history.
So forgive Canadians that know the history if we’re not sold on the image of friendly guys riding a horse to save the day. It’s all a lie.
So forgive Canadians that know the history if we’re not sold on the image of friendly guys riding a horse to save the day. It’s all a lie.
BTW. I'm not anti-law enforcement.
A former deputy-commissioner of the RCMP literally thanks me for assistance with analysis on one of his notable reports.
I'm anti-preservation of failed institutions. Even a few good folks on the force can't change a 100-year old culture.
A former deputy-commissioner of the RCMP literally thanks me for assistance with analysis on one of his notable reports.
I'm anti-preservation of failed institutions. Even a few good folks on the force can't change a 100-year old culture.
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