Manitoba First Nation chief questions why RCMP didn't consult her on race-based data project

Angela Levasseur, chief of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, says she’s concerned that she wasn’t consulted by the RCMP ahead of the launch of their race-based data collection pilot project.

An RCMP pilot project to collect race-based data isn’t sitting well with the leader of one northern Manitoba First Nation, who says she wasn’t consulted even though her community is near one of the cities selected to participate.

The Mounties launched the project earlier this month in three communities, including Thompson, Man., where officers are using their observations to determine someone’s race during arrests, wellness checks and when there’s use of force.

It’s aimed at better understanding the experiences of Indigenous, Black and other racialized people to improve how the police service serves diverse communities, the Mounties have said previously.

But Chief Angela Levasseur of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, just west of Thompson, says no one from the RCMP contacted her directly ahead of time.

Before the project started, the RCMP said they spent two years conducting extensive consultations in communities across Canada.

“I’m a little surprised that I wasn’t directly contacted and consulted, and I would have greatly appreciated that,” Levasseur said.

“I would like to know who they did consult, because none of my colleagues in MKO [Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak] or AMC [the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs] have mentioned this to me.”

She said she’s concerned about the way the data is being collected, pointing out that it’s impossible to know for sure whether or not someone is Indigenous based on their appearance alone.

“I hope it doesn’t become a quota system to fulfil whichever outcomes they’re hoping to achieve with their data,” she said.

“I also wonder how they will know for certain whether or not someone is First Nations, as we do not all look the same.”

She also questioned how accurate the data will be if it relies on officers’ observations.

“Are they really going to record all the incidents where they have harassed a First Nations person or used excessive force? I mean, it’s kind of laughable, quite frankly,” she said.

“Why would they honestly report incidents that could portray them in a negative light?”

Asked to comment, RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Kim Chamberland said the police force plans to continue partnering with community organizations and engage with the public through town halls, focus groups, surveys and events throughout the pilot, which will also roll out in Whitehorse and Wood Buffalo/Fort McMurray, Alta.

However, she did not say why Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation wasn’t consulted.

The acting director of the RCMP’s anti-racism unit said Tuesday that officer perception is being used to determine the identity of people the Mounties interact with in the pilot project.

Mai Phan told reporters officers will use their observations to determine if someone is white, Black, East/Southeast Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Latino or Indigenous.

There are five subcategories of Indigenous identity listed — First Nations, Inuit, Métis, unknown Indigenous identity or not perceived to be Indigenous.

Mounties started collecting the data on Jan. 8. Phan said the RCMP will collect data for one year, then anonymize it and provide “open data” to the public.