New documents show that Canada’s spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), secretly investigated the Ipperwash land dispute before a peaceful protester was shot and killed in 1995. These papers reveal that the agency may have falsely claimed that First Nations activists had guns when they did not.
The conflict took place at a site called Camp Ipperwash near Lake Huron, about 200 kilometres west of Toronto. The land used to belong to the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. During World War II, the government took the land and moved families out under the War Measures Act. After the war, the land was never returned as promised.
In 1993, members of the First Nation began occupying the military base again, asking for their land back. In July 1995, they moved into the military barracks, forcing the military to leave. On Labour Day weekend, they also took over a nearby park.
On September 6, 1995, police opened fire during an attempt to remove the protesters. Dudley George, a peaceful protester, was shot and killed by a sniper. Later investigations found that the activists had no weapons, only sticks and stones.
For years, people suspected that Canada’s spy agency might have played a role in the events. However, when an official inquiry investigated the shooting, CSIS was not mentioned at all.
But now, newly released secret documents show that CSIS was investigating what they called "Native extremism" across the country in 1995. One report from July 27, 1995 — more than a month before the shooting — said, "Toronto Region is actively investigating the potential for serious violence at Ipperwash." Another report from March 1996 claimed, "Many Natives are armed."
These claims were false. Several later investigations confirmed that the activists did not have guns.
One top-secret report called the protesters "Native extremists" and compared them to the Mohawk Warrior Society, which had used armed standoffs to fight for political causes. The report suggested that the protesters at Ipperwash might be a terrorist threat.
This upset many in the First Nation community. Chief Kimberly Bressette from Kettle and Stony Point said, “That is not who we are. We are strong and resilient people, but not violent.”
For many, these false reports caused fear and misunderstanding, making it harder for people to support the land claim.
A man named Jim Moses, a freelance journalist from the Six Nations near Hamilton, revealed in 1999 that he had worked as a spy for both CSIS and the Ontario Provincial Police. He pretended to be a reporter living among the protesters.
Layton Elijah, a peacekeeper from the Oneida Nation, said he had caught Moses spying on three different occasions. Even though Elijah told him to leave, Moses continued his work, living among the protesters for years.
Moses later claimed that he had informed authorities that the activists were unarmed. He wanted to prevent bloodshed, but his work put him at great personal risk. His home was even attacked in what is believed to have been an attempt to kill him.
The land dispute did not end with the shooting. Many First Nation members have continued fighting for justice. They say that the government must be more transparent and honest about what happened.
In 2016, Canada and the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation reached a settlement. The agreement promised $95 million and the return of the land, but the area still needs to be cleaned up before families can return.
Jason George, a descendant of those displaced, said, “We are still displaced because of lies told about us. I want to come home, but it may not happen in my lifetime.”
Many believe that opening the secret files and being honest about the past is the only way to move forward. “Transparency needs to come forward because we are protecting what is rightfully ours,” said Lori George, whose father supported the land reclamation for over a decade.
Experts also argue that hiding information keeps communities from healing. They want the government to take responsibility and support families who have waited for decades to reclaim their land.
UAE and Yemen attorney generals met in Abu Dhabi to strengthen legal ties, enhance public prosecutio
UAE and African Union held first political talks in Abu Dhabi, focusing on peace, investment, health
Phil Salt smashed 141* as England posted 304/2, a T20 record, to crush South Africa by 146 runs at O
Demon Slayer Infinity Castle delivers breathtaking fights and visuals, but its long runtime and too
