The 140th and final witness in the Ipperwash Inquiry testified Wednesday, wrapping up more than two years of testimony.

The final witness, Ron French of the federal Indian and Northern Affairs department, testified via video link.

The two-year Ipperwash Inquiry looked into the events leading up to death of Dudley George, shown here in this 1993 photo.
(CP file photo)

Late in the afternoon after French completed his testimony, Justice Sidney Linden, who has presided over the public inquiry, said he hoped the process had been beneficial.

Linden also hoped the inquiry's legacy will be to improve relations between First Nations, the government and the police.

The inquiry, which first began in April 2004, examined the events surrounding the death of native protester Dudley George and how violence in similar situations might be avoided in the future.

Dudley George was shot and killed on Sept. 6, 1995 during a standoff with Ontario Provincial Police at Ipperwash Provincial Park in southwestern Ontario.

'A very long road'

Family members who have followed the inquiry closely over the years agree that the time and money invested has been worthwhile. It's estimated the inquiry has cost $19 million so far.

"It's been a very long road to get to this point, and I'm kind of looking to this part of it coming to an end," Sam George, Dudley George's brother, told CBC News.

Sam George was among the native protesters at Ipperwash Provincial Park the night his brother was shot, and led the family's battle for an inquiry.

Acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane of the OPP was convicted in 1997 of criminal negligence causing death after the court ruled he did not have reasonable belief that Dudley George was armed.

However, it was not until 2003 that the government called an inquiry into the fatal shooting.

The standoff at Ipperwash stemmed from a half-century-old native land claim dispute.

Native protesters claimed that the land was the site of an ancient burial ground that had been destroyed when the federal government built a military camp.

Protesters still living in the park

Since 1993, about 50 have resided in the army barracks built for the military camp near the park, and many of them consider it home.

Mark George, Dudley George's cousin, is one of those still living on the site of the deadly standoff.

Over the past two years, Mark George has heard much of the testimony at the inquiry and believes the inquiry has helped his community heal.

He also said it's given Canadians a better understanding of not only what occurred at the standoff, but the larger issues of land claims and treaties as well.

In his opinion, the events leading up to Dudley's death were spurred by racist attitudes.

Allegations of intolerance have surfaced throughout the inquiry.

In Nov. 2005, former attorney general Charles Harnick dropped the biggest bombshell of the inquiry when he testified that former premier Mike Harris had said "I want the fucking Indians out of the park" during a meeting just hours before the fatal shooting.

Harris denied using that language when he testified in February 2006.

Now that the evidence-gathering part of the inquiry is done, closing arguments must still be heard and are scheduled to begin Aug. 21. The completion of closing remarks will mark the official conclusion of the inquiry.

Linden is expected to submit his recommendations to the provincial government by the end of the year.