Hours before police killed a native protester in a 1995 standoff, a senior officer described Ontario's government as gun-loving rednecks who couldn't care less about aboriginals.

The comments surfaced on recordings played Wednesday at the public inquiry into the death of Dudley George. The activist was shot during an occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park.

In one recording, Ontario Provincial Police Insp. Ron Fox briefs his boss after attending a meeting with then-premier Mike Harris and several cabinet ministers and deputy ministers from his Conservative government. He shares his impressions of the politicians' thoughts on the standoff with Insp. John Carson, who was at the southwestern Ontario park.

Mike Harris in 1995. (CP photo)

"We're dealing with a real redneck government," Fox says in the telephone call with Carson, who is now deputy commissioner of the provincial police force.

"They just are in love with guns. There's no question. They don't give a shit less about Indians."

Carson responded by saying: "They just want us to kick ass. We're not prepared to do that yet."

George, 38, was among a group of native protesters who had been occupying the park, claiming the land was the site of an ancient burial ground.

The inquiry based in Forest, about 250 kilometres west of Toronto, has spent 11 months hearing testimony as it tries to find out why an OPP officer shot George, and whether any political direction led the police operation to turn violent.

The shooting led to allegations that Harris had approved the use of force to clear up a frustrating situation.

In another recording played Wednesday, Fox can be heard to say: "The premier is quite adamant: this is not an issue of native rights."

He said the premier said authorities had "tried to pacify and pander" to the protesters for too long, calling for "swift affirmative action."

Harris, ministers only sought injunction: lawyer

Harris has steadfastly said he never pressured police to quell the protest quickly, using force.

The former premier's lawyer, Peter Downard, said the tapes only confirm that the government wanted the occupation to end as soon as possible.

He said politicians at the meeting Fox described were talking about seeking an injunction.

"That's the decision that's being made – to seek an injunction, and that's a perfectly appropriate government decision," he said.

George was the first aboriginal protester killed by Canadian police in a century.

The officer who shot him, acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane, was convicted of criminal negligence causing death and has since resigned from the OPP.