Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs votes to remove suspended Grand Chief Arlen Dumas
CBC
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has voted to remove suspended Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, and publicly apologized to the two women who came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.
At a special general assembly held in Winnipeg on Friday, dozens of Manitoba chiefs held a non-confidence vote to officially remove Dumas from his position, following accusations he sexually harassed and assaulted an employee.
Interim Grand Chief Cornell McLean told CBC News that 30 voted in favour of immediately removing the grand chief, and 13 voted against in the closed-door meeting.
"On behalf of the assembly, we have to [apologize], because we need to protect them from things like this happening," McLean said.
Dumas was suspended in March pending an investigation into allegations he engaged in workplace sexual harassment and sexually assaulted an employee, who at the time was anonymous. The employee filed a police report, but no charges have been laid.
McLean apologized to Shauna Fontaine, who came forward publicly in June as the employee who filed the complaint, and expressed her disappointment in AMC and the police's response to her report.
He also apologized to Bethany Maytwayashing, who accused Dumas of sending inappropriate text messages to her in 2019.
"When you're a leader in your community, you can't abuse your power or trust in any way shape or form," McLean said.
In a written statement given to CBC News, Fontaine expressed some relief about Dumas's immediate removal, but says she is "mostly saddened and feel traumatized in relation to the whole of this experience."
The statement renews her call for more transparent, trauma-informed investigation and resolution processes within the AMC, which represents 62 First Nations in the province.
In response to Fontaine's allegations, the assembly ordered a third-party investigation, which found that Dumas had engaged in workplace sexual harassment.
Fontaine originally expressed concern over AMC's handling of her allegations in June, via an open letter that was signed by 200 supporters. The letter called for an independent inquiry into the case.
"It is time for change, and with this outcome, I can only hope that change will take hold," Fontaine's statement reads.
Earlier this week, Dumas announced he would be seeking trauma-based treatment to "begin healing not only from the events of the past five months but also a lifetime of trauma," he said in a news release.
Faulty and aging equipment was to blame for nearly all of the eight hydraulic fuel spills on the TTC in the first five months of 2024, a new report finds, noting a steep increase in spills compared to previous years.
High levels of heavy metals and metalloids in untreated groundwater have been detected in and around Whitehorse, new research suggests.
Elections Nova Scotia will delay the release of provincial election results tonight due to the late opening of a polling station in the riding of Eastern Shore.
The longtime mayor of Kensington is stepping down after a contentious debate over new pickleball courts for the central P.E.I. town.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's agreed to meet with his provincial and territorial counterparts after Donald Trump threatened to impose hefty tariffs on Canadian goods.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods is "like a family member stabbing you right in the heart."
The Salvation Army can't fundraise in the Avalon Mall after this year. It all comes down to religion
This is the last Christmas season the Salvation Army's annual kettle campaign will be allowed in the Avalon Mall in St. John's, ending a decades-long tradition.
The province and district social services administration boards say plans are in place to ensure people on social assistance do not miss out on benefits as a result of the strike by Canada Post employees.
Near the exit to Truro, N.S., a cluster of colorful tents and a lone RV can be seen alongside Highway 102, some tucked under the overpass for shelter from the elements.
Police and Public Trust, a project of the CBC News Atlantic investigative unit, scrutinizes the largely off-limits police complaint and discipline systems across the region. Journalists are using access to information laws and, in some cases, court challenges to obtain discipline records and data.
Toronto police have arrested a GTA woman who they allege scammed dozens of Taylor Swift fans out of more than $70,000 by promising them tickets that never materialized.