Ipperwash Inquiry facts for kids

The Ipperwash Inquiry was a major public investigation in Ontario, Canada. It was set up by the Government of Ontario to look into important events. This inquiry lasted two years and was led by Sidney B. Linden. Its final report, a very long document, was released on May 30, 2007.

The inquiry began shortly after Dalton McGuinty became Premier of Ontario in 2003. Its main goals were to investigate the death of 38-year-old Dudley George. He died during a protest at Ipperwash Provincial Park in September 1995. The inquiry also aimed to suggest ways to prevent similar violence in the future. The report noted that Dudley George was the first Indigenous person to die in a land-rights dispute in Canada since the 1800s. It also highlighted that the Canadian government taking the Stony Point reserve land in 1942 was a unique event in Canadian history.

Why the Inquiry Happened

For ten years, Dudley George's brother, Sam George, worked hard to get answers about Dudley's death. He kept asking for a public investigation. In 2008, Sam George was recognized for his efforts and inducted into the Order of Ontario. People said he sought justice and peace.

Amnesty International also pushed for the inquiry. They said it had been too long to wait for answers. They felt that governments had not done enough. This situation was even seen as affecting Canada's ability to speak up about human rights issues in other countries.

Because of the ongoing questions from Dudley George's family, politicians, and journalists, the new Liberal government in Ontario decided to call for the inquiry on November 12, 2003.

Where and When Hearings Took Place

The inquiry's hearings happened between July 2004 and August 2006. They were held at the Kimball Hall Forest Memorial Arena and Community Centre in Forest, Ontario. This location was chosen because it was close to where the events happened. It also made it easier for many local people to come and share what they knew.

What is a Public Judicial Inquiry?

The Ipperwash Inquiry was a special type of investigation called a public judicial inquiry. The Government of Ontario paid for it. These inquiries are set up by the government but work independently. This means they are not controlled by the government.

Sidney B. Linden, who led the inquiry, explained that public inquiries aim to find the truth about specific issues. They also suggest new policies or changes. The Ipperwash Inquiry had two main jobs. First, it had to look into everything that happened around Dudley George's death. Second, it had to make recommendations to avoid violence in similar situations in the future.

The Ipperwash Inquiry Report

The inquiry's findings were put into a large report. This report was 1,533 pages long and had four main parts. It was released on May 30, 2007. The report confirmed that Dudley George was the first Indigenous person to die in a land dispute in Canada since the 1800s.

The four parts of the report covered different areas:

• Volume 1: Investigated the events and shared the findings.
• Volume 2: Looked at different policies.
• Volume 3: Explained how the inquiry process worked.
• Volume 4: Provided a summary of the whole report.

The Original Land Claim

The report looked deeply into the history of the Stony Point and Kettle Point communities. In 1937, the leaders of the Kettle and Stony Point Band asked the government to protect an old Indigenous burial ground at Ipperwash Beach. They wanted it fenced off. The report detailed how burial sites were found and confirmed. It also explained how the land with these sites was taken. The First Nations people worked tirelessly to protect these sacred areas.

The land dispute itself went back to 1942. At that time, the Canadian government took land from the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. They did this to build a military base called Camp Ipperwash during World War II. Sixteen First Nation families had to move from their homes. The government promised the land would be returned after the war. However, it was not. Camp Ipperwash was used for training until 1995.

The First Nations people believed Sandy Point was a sacred burial site. By 1993, some members of the First Nation began to occupy Camp Ipperwash. In 1995, the military left. On September 4, 1995, a group of 30 First Nations protesters marched into Ipperwash Provincial Park and began their occupation.

Key Findings

The report found that the Canadian government taking the Stony Point reserve land in 1942 was truly unique in Canadian history.

The inquiry concluded that the police (OPP), the provincial government led by Premier Mike Harris, and the federal government all shared responsibility for the events that led to Dudley George's death. The inquiry leader, Sidney Linden, also asked the federal government to say sorry publicly. He also recommended that Camp Ipperwash be returned to the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation, along with money as compensation. The report noted that Premier Harris's comments and his desire to quickly end the occupation created a situation that limited how the government responded to the protest.

The report made 100 recommendations to prevent similar situations in the future.

What Happened After the Report

The Ipperwash Inquiry has been called a very important investigation by groups like Amnesty International Canada. The Law Society of Upper Canada described it as a "landmark report" on how Indigenous people, police, and government interact.

Land Occupation in Caledonia

The Ipperwash Inquiry was happening at the same time as another land dispute in Caledonia, Ontario. In 2006, members of the Six Nations of the Grand River took control of land they believed belonged to them. This land was part of the Haldimand Proclamation.

Five Years Later (2012)

By 2012, five years after the report, the Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse said that the most important recommendations had not been acted upon. He also noted that funding to help First Nations and the government work together had been cut. This made First Nations people wonder if the Ontario government was serious about making things right.

Twenty Years After Dudley's Death (2015)

By January 2015, the disputed land still had not been returned to the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation. In 2010, the Ontario government had said the land was transferred to the federal government. Only the federal government could make it a reserve. However, on September 18, 2015, members of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation voted to approve a deal. This deal included a $90-million payment, the return of the land taken in 1942, and the cleanup of the Stoney Point lands.