Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc.

Head Office
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
Nelson House, Manitoba
R0B 1A0
www.mkonorth.com

Thompson Sub-Office
200-701 Thompson Drive
Thompson, Manitoba
R8N 2A3

Winnipeg Sub-Office
6th Floor, 338 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 0T2

Office of Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson

Media Release
For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Brennan Manoakeesick

Phone: (204) 795-0449
Email: brennanm@mkonorth.com

October 27, 2015

12:00 p.m. CST

NORTHERN CHIEFS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS WOMEN

IN QUEBEC WHO DISCLOSED ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
TREATY ONE TERRITORY, 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-dOr, 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.
Our members who live in urban areas have shared similar concerns, added the MKO Grand
Chief.
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 some in the
policing field have 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 some 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 some members of 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 at
least 2010 to be engaged in two recent major developments in delivery of policing services to our
communities, said the MKO Grand Chief.
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 20year 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 selfadministered 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, stated MKO Grand Chief North Wilson.
I am also seeking a meeting with the RCMP D Division Commanding Officer Kevin
Brosseau to talk about solutions and am working to set up a similar meeting with Chief Clunis of
the Winnipeg Police Service, concluded MKO Grand Chief North Wilson.
-30~Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that
has represented 30 First Nation communities in Manitobas North since 1981~