2 police agencies investigate historical abuse accusations against Hydro workers, RCMP

Outside investigators will look into the allegations of assault and sexual abuse by Manitoba Hydro employees and police officers in northern Manitoba communities stemming from a report released last month.

The RCMPhas enlisted theIndependent Investigation Unit of Manitoba to investigate the accusations made against police officers.

The Ontario Provincial Police will probe the allegations that involve Hydro employees or contractors because RCMPmembers may have been present during the activities being investigated.

The referrals to outside agencies follow calls for the police to investigate the allegationsof discrimination and sexual violence, which date as far back as the1960s.

The allegations, made by members of Fox Lake Cree Nation, were detailed ina report producedby the Clean Environment Commission, anarm's-length provincial agency asked to study the social impact of hydro development past and present on communities in northern Manitoba.

Though it is not mandatory for thepolice watchdog toreview theallegations against officers, the civilian director of the Independent Investigation Unitbelieves it is in the public interest for the agency to take part.TheIIU was notified of the allegations on Aug. 22, one day after theCECreport was made public, it said.

In the report, people spoke of witnessing rape and being unable to interfere, and the RCMP is accused of failing to take complaints seriously.

'We needed somebody independent'

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief ArlenDumas is optimistic that external agencies will bring credibility to the investigation process, he said in an interview Friday.

"Wedid ask, in finding out there were so many implications of negligence and potentially assaulting [by the] RCMPthemselves, that we needed somebody independent and objective to take a look, and I'm glad that the RCMPhave decided that that is the right way to do it."

Earlier this week, Premier Brian Pallistersaid he was puzzled why the damning allegations hadn't been investigatedor come to lightsooner.

The report was released by theprovince in August, although it was completed in May.

Manitoba Keewatinowi OkimakanakGrand Chief Garrison Settee welcomesthe involvement of external investigators, but said it doesn't preclude the need for a provincial inquiry.

In a statement Friday, Settee echoed last week's call from York Factory First Nationfor an inquiry. He said any information arising from such an inquiry could be forwarded to the appropriate investigative body.

The RCMP said any new allegations will be referred to either the IIU or OPP if they fallwithin their mandate. The policepromised to investigate all ongoing and new investigations of sexual assault and criminality in the area.

With files from Sean Kavanagh