Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs removes Arlen Dumas as grand chief over sexual harassment
An Indigenous leader in Manitoba was removed from his job Friday after being accused of sexual harassment.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs voted to drop Arlen Dumas as grand chief during a closed-door meeting in Winnipeg. Dumas had already been suspended without pay after a staff member lodged a misconduct complaint against him in May.
"There are policies that need to be put in place and women that need to be protected," acting grand chief Cornell McLean said following the non-confidence vote among chiefs, which passed by a 30-13 margin.
"When you're a leader in your community you can't (mis)use your power of trust in any way, shape or form."
Dumas had said the accusation was unfounded and earlier this week issued a press release that said he was seeking treatment for trauma.
He did not attend Friday's meeting and attempts to reach him by The Canadian Press were unsuccessful. An automated response from his email account said he was out of the province.
"There were three requests into his legal counsel and he never responded at all," McLean said.
The harassment complaint was probed by an independent investigation that found Dumas had engaged in workplace sexual harassment.
It was not the first time Dumas had faced a complaint. In 2019, he stepped away from the job temporarily after an Indigenous woman said he tried to pursue a relationship with her by using a false identity on social media.
McLean apologized to both women Friday on behalf of the assembly. His comments were greeted with applause by a group of Indigenous women who were gathered outside the closed-door meeting.
"This is a big step for us as far as it goes with the chiefs. They're willing to back us up now," said Lillian Cook, from Sagkeeng First Nation northeast of Winnipeg.
"There is so much abuse, harassment ... the women are afraid to talk."
Dumas was first elected grand chief in 2017 and was re-elected last year.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs represents 62 First Nations in the province.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.