Manitoba's top chief suspended following sexual assault allegation by colleague
CBC
Manitoba's top chief has been suspended while an allegation he sexually assaulted a colleague is investigated.
An outside party will lead the investigation into Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs confirmed in a news release on Friday.
A woman who works with AMC accused Dumas of harassment and sexual assault in a letter she sent Monday to AMC's executive council of chiefs.
In the letter obtained by CBC News, the woman said she wanted to bring immediate attention to breaches of AMC's code of the conduct "based on my personal experiences of harassment, sexual harassment and sexualized violence."
"I believe there should be urgency in this matter, as I suspect other women of AMC have or are experiencing the same thing."
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs identified her as a senior staff member.
The assembly said it is hiring Tapper Cuddy LLP to lead the investigation, which AMC said would be "impartial, neutral and objective."
The executive council of chiefs held an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the allegations against Dumas.
It also announced AMC's personnel and finance committee would review and amend the existing workplace harassment policies. It would review the constitution as well and identify amendments that could be adopted.
In the letter, the woman alleges she's felt harassed by Dumas by phone, in person and virtually since her second day of employment with AMC, which advocates on behalf of 62 First Nations in Manitoba, including Anishnaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene and Dakota peoples.
"My personal experience of harassment and sexual misconduct has created an unsafe work environment where I have been subjugated to gender-based violence," she wrote.
"I am unable to provide more details to this issue, as a formal complaint has been filed with the Winnipeg Police Service sex crimes unit, but I can confirm from my experience, I was sexually assaulted."
The police said on Friday that an incident number has been generated, but they could not confirm any of the individuals who are allegedly involved.
Dumas has not been formally charged by Winnipeg police. He did not respond to a request for comment.
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