An open letter to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (ACM), signed by more than 200 people, including several prominent people and politicians, calls for an independent investigation into suspended Grand Chief Arlen Dumas.
The letter, written by Indigenous women’s rights activist Sandra DeLaronde, and posted on social media on Monday, calls on the assembly to be transparent in its handling of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Arlen Dumas. He also asksMCA it is better to support those who have been traumatized by this allegation.
It is a long, painful and often quiet journey for people who have been victims of sexual violence.reads the letter, which includes the names of Manitoba MPPs Nahanni Fontaine and Bernadette Smith and Federal MP Leah Gazan.
Doctors, lawyers and many advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls also signed.
Most of the names are female, a dozen male and three are community organizations, especially the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, the West Central Women’s Resource Center and Ka Ni Kanicihk.
I am proud of everyone who took a huge personal risk to support the many victims silenced by the Assembly of Manitoba ChiefsIndigenous women’s rights activist Sandra DeLaronde wrote in a post on social media on Tuesday night, a day after publishing the letter and appealing for more to sign.
” I believe that victims of sexual violence can draw strength from the more than 200 who signed this open letter. You’re not alone! “
Arlen Dumas has been suspended since March following allegations of sexual misconduct with a colleague.
In a letter sent to the Executive Council of Chiefs ofMCAwhose CBC obtained a copy, the woman said a formal complaint was filed with the Winnipeg Police Service.
According to an open letter published by Sandra DeLaronde, other women have moved forward and more allegations were made by the end of May.
Police will not confirm these complaints unless an incident number is provided.
How many times has CBC/Radio-Canada tried to contact Mr. Dumas for comments at first, but he did not respond.
The letter of Ms. Delaronde calls for the creation of an independent commission of inquiry jointly formed and headed by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Victim Advocates.
Such a procedure can take place in conjunction with the police investigation and putting victims at the center as we often say about the need to do so indicates the letter.
The letter states that requests were made on two occasions to arrange a meeting with the Acting Grand Chief of the ACM. These requests were made on March 30 and April 4.
The Acting Grand Chief at the time was Eric Redhead. He resigned in mid-April. He was elected NDP MP for Thompson on Tuesday.
Cornell McLean is in action now.
No one else was killed, saidMCA
The disputes of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs claim that other victims have come to the fore.
In a press release Tuesday, spokeswoman Amanda Fredlund said there were no formal complaints, other than one in March, filed with her organization about Mr. Dumas.
L ‘MCA also did not inform the police of any other criminal complaints, he added.
Ms Fredlund said the investigation into the allegation was nearing completion and the report was likely to be presented to the body’s staff and finance committee by the end of June.
He recognizes that some protector offered to assist with the investigation, but had legal obligations to uphold, including confidentiality and impartiality in the workplace.
While the Independent Workplace Investigation is ongoing, the ACM may not conduct any process that would jeopardize its legal obligations in relation to the investigation. said Ms. Fredlund in the press release.
Ms. reacted. DeLaronde in response to this in his post on social media.
L ‘MCA presents itself as a government in the service of its citizens, but chooses instead to act on the advice of his lawyers and to refuse the opportunity to speak to the victims, he laments.
With information from Darren Bernhardt
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
