Policing the Arctic: Relations Between the Mounted Police and Inuit in the Eastern Canadian Arctic during Sled Dog Patrols, 1903 – 45

Abstract

This paper examines relations between the Mounted Police and Inuit of the Eastern Canadian Arctic from 1903 to 1945. It recognizes that although the Mounted Police, as an organization, acted coercively to impose Canadian laws and push Canada’s colonial agenda in the Arctic, police officers needed to maintain good relationships with Inuit to do their job and survive Arctic conditions. The paper’s overarching objective is to highlight the contribution of Inuit special constables to Canadian Arctic history. We present a careful study of routine and special patrols, as these provide a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of the role of Inuit special constables and their relationships with Mounted Police officers. The paper presents a series of interactions between these two groups that illustrate the complexity and nuances of their relationship. Drawing on archival work, we also highlight the names of previously unacknowledged Inuit special constables.