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 Introduction
The
Canadian Rangers remain one of the least known elements in
the Canadian Forces, despite their unique contribution to
Canadian defence. Officially established as a component of
the military reserves in 1947, the Rangers have provided a
visible military presence in isolated, coastal and northern
communities for nearly sixty years and continue to serve as
the military’s “eyes and ears” in these
regions. Of note, Aboriginal peoples make up more than half
of the force’s strength, and their service embodies
a vital contribution to Canadian sovereignty and security
as well as cross-cultural awareness and identity formation.
My research provides the first scholarly overview and assessment
of this unorthodox military formation. This study will reveal
how the partnership that underlies the Rangers allows this
force to fulfill operational requirements vital to the Canadian
Forces, and contributes to capacity building in remote Canadian
communities.
The Canadian Rangers appear to represent an important exception
to Carleton scholar Francis Abele’s generally-accepted
appraisal that the post-Second World War militarization process
has been detrimental to northern peoples. They have garnered
uniformly positive media coverage in the last decade, and
enjoy tremendous public and political support in their communities.
The Rangers ‘show the Canadian flag’ on a daily
basis and have expanded to include a highly successful youth
program: the Junior Canadian Rangers. The force’s unique,
decentralized command structure allows for a high degree of
community direction that also draws upon diversity and traditional
indigenous knowledge - rather than adhering to an orthodox
military model prescribing assimilation and acculturation
of members. The book that I am writing will provide the first
systematic examination of how this interesting and important
organization has evolved over the last half century.
As a result of the broader definitions of security now in
vogue, a comprehensive assessment of the Canadian Rangers
must take into account both perceived military utility as
well as the role of the program in community development and
the fostering of a healthy Aboriginal-military relationships
in remote parts of Canada. By answering both military and
societal security needs in a flexible, inexpensive, and culturally-inclusive
manner, the Rangers appear to represent a success on multiple
levels. The force has allowed the military to maintain an
inexpensive domestic presence in remote regions since 1947,
has served as a highly visible expression of Canadian sovereignty,
and has fulfilled operational requirements vital to the Canadian
Forces. These contributions, however, are merely a part of
the greater picture. The organization also seems to have contributed
to capacity-building, not only in terms of military capabilities,
but also in terms of helping to create political self-determining,
sustainable northern communities. Research into the five Canadian
Ranger Patrol Groups spanning Canada’s geographical
breadth is imperative to discern how the Rangers serve as
a bridge between cultures within a diverse country, and a
bridge between traditional state-centric and human security
considerations.
This project has been generously supported
by several organizations and individuals:
- Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor
Jim Miller, Canada Research Chair (Native-Newcomer Relations),
University of Saskatchewan
- 1 Canadian Ranger
Patrol Group
- 2 Canadian Ranger
Patrol Group
- 4 Canadian Ranger
Patrol Group
- 5 Canadian Ranger
Patrol Group
- St. Jerome's
University, Faculty Research Grant Program
- Laurier Centre
for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies
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