The RCMP's commissioner says he expresses sincere regret for an extensive spying program that targeted hundreds of Indigenous people.

It's the first time Mike Duheme acknowledged reporting by CBC Indigenous concerning RCMP surveillance activities dating back to the late 1960s against Indigenous leaders and organizations.

"We recognize the serious concerns that this history continues to raise for Indigenous Peoples, families and communities across Canada," Duheme wrote in a statement published Wednesday.

"I express sincere regret, and while we cannot change the past, we can and must acknowledge that these actions and their impact continue to be felt today."