Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc.■Head Office Thompson Sub-Office Winnipeg Sub-OfficeNisichawayasihk Cree Nation 200-701 Thompson Drive 6th Floor, 338 BroadwayNelson House, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba Winnipeg, ManitobaR0B 1A0 R8N 2A3 R3C 0T2www.mkonorth.com

Office of Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson

Media Release Media Contact: Brennan Manoakeesick For Immediate ReleasePhone: (204) 795-0449 October 27, 2015 Email: brennanm@mkonorth.com 12:00 p.m. CST

NORTHERN CHIEFS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN QUEBEC WHO DISCLOSED ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Inc. (MKO) responded to the shocking allegations raised by several Indigenous women who were abused and sexually assaulted by provincial police in Val-d’Or, Quebec. “We stand in solitary with the Indigenous women who came forward from several Algonquin communities to disclose their allegations of abuse and sexual assault by members of the provincial police” stated Grand Chief North Wilson.

Grand Chief North Wilson continued, “our women and men, particularly in our remote communities, have disclosed to me and our organization examples of how they continue to lose faith in how provincial police services are currently being held in our First Nation communities”.

“The allegations of abuse and sexual assault of Indigenous women by provincial police in Quebec has shocked me” stated Grand Chief North Wilson. “I realized that a National Inquiry is needed to raise the voices of our communities to disclose their stories of how policing has failed them. Examples that have been shared with me include how little or no information is shared with families and community leadership with respect to missing and or murdered loved ones, the lack of support for community search and rescue efforts, and the negative attitudes by police service providers towards our Women, Men, and Youth” stated Grand Chief North Wilson.

MKO reiterates the call for a National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) to address the systemic barriers of the justice system, including the mistreatment of Indigenous Women and Men by the police service providers in Canada.

“MKO and the MKO First Nations have been knocking on closed doors for at least the past four years to try to make sure that the National Inquiry is held. With the recent election of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we continue to press upon the Federal government to act to ensure that a National Inquiry is held that respects the participation of Indigenous communities, families and leadership”, added Grand Chief North Wilson.

“First Nations in Manitoba, including MKO, have also been knocking on closed doors since 2010 to be engaged in two recent major developments in delivery of policing services to our communities”, said the MKO Grand Chief.

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“The former Provincial Police Act was repealed and replaced by the Police Services Act as of June 1, 2012 without meaningful engagement with the MKO First Nations”, added Grand Chief North Wilson. “As well, the Provincial Police Service Agreement was renewed for 20 years effective April 1, 2012 without any engagement whatsoever with the MKO First Nations and without making Aboriginal Policing a clear priority in the Agreement”, the MKO Grand Chief continued.

Manitoba is responsible for “the administration of justice” in the province in accordance with s. 92(14) of the Constitution Act, 1867. The Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA) is a 20-year agreement between the provincial Minister of Justice and the federal Minister of Public Safety under which the RCMP provide policing services across Manitoba and in most MKO First Nation communities where policing is not provided by a municipal police force, by a self-administered First Nation police force or a Community Tri-Partite Policing Agreement (CTA). Manitoba pays 70% of the costs of policing services under the PPSA and Canada pays the remaining 30%.

“MKO will recommend that one potential outcome of the Inquiry shall be that the provinces and Canada recognize and include the crucial policing role of our Special Constables as part of the Provincial Police Service Agreements to ensure that front line policing in our communities are conducted by our own police service providers”, the MKO Grand Chief continued. “Having police service providers that are First Nation led would lead to improved relationships with our communities and better address the public safety concerns of First Nations for the protection of our women, children and our families”, concluded Grand Chief North Wilson.

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~Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that has represented 30 First Nation communities in Manitoba’s North since 1981~

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