Police identify Rinelle Harper, 16, as victim in Midtown Bridge attack

Winnipeg police have taken the unusual step of releasing the name of the 16-year-old victim in what they're calling a serious sexual attack near a downtown bridge over the weekend.

RinelleHarpernearly died after she ended up in the frigid waters of theAssiniboineRiver near the Midtown Bridge. Police say the teenwas attacked on Friday evening andwas found just east of the bridgeat around 7 a.m. CT Saturday.

• Winnipeg girl, 16, in hospital after assault near downtown bridge
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"As a member of the community myself, I'm appalled by the viciousness of this attack," policeSupt. DannySmythtold reporters at a news conference Monday afternoon.

The teenis currently in stable condition in hospital.

Harper is a great-niece of the late Manitoba politicianElijiahHarper, according to relatives, includingGrand Chief David Harper of ManitobaKeewatinowiOkimakanak, an organization that represents First Nations in the province's north.

"She still needs some time to recapture her mind and her body," David Harper said after he visited Rinelleand her family in hospital on Monday evening.

"What she went through is totally unacceptable. Nobody should be going through that, especially at the age of 16."

Naming victim an unusual move

Releasing the name of a sexual assault victim is a raremove.Under Canadian law, survivors of sexual assault, as well as minors who commit or are the victims of crimes, are normallynot identified.

Smyth said Harper's parents have givenpolice permission to identify her in this case.

"Rinelle is a person. She's a person that lives in this community. She's a person that has a family," Smyth said.

"We're hopeful that this will resonate with the community and that the community will come forward and help us."

Smyth said Harper had no prior contact with police.

"Prior to Friday, she's had no contact with police or any other authorities that I'm aware of," he said.

"She's a regular kid who does what a lot of kids do on a Friday. She was out socializing with her friends."

Family members toldCBC News that Harper is from the Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba, but she has been living in Winnipeg with family while she goes to Southeast Collegiate, ahigh schoolfor aboriginal students that isowned and operated by nine northern Manitoba First Nations.

Holly Harper, an aunt, said the attack on Rinelleshows how much the Canadian government needs to hold an inquest into missing and murdered indigenous women.

"They say it's not a problem, but it is. It's a huge problem and turning a blind eye and not facing it is just gonna keep happening," Harper said from Nestor Falls, Ont., on Monday evening.

"We're lucky Rinelle is still with us. She would've been another statistic, another reason for the government to say it's not a problem. It can't be ignored any longer."

Was out with friends

On Friday evening, Rinelle Harper went out with friends in Winnipeg's South Broadway area.

Investigators believe she was attacked on the river walkalongthe Assiniboine River near the bridge.Police say they believe the attack was sexual in nature.

Harper ended up in the river afterwards. A passerby found her unconsciousalong the river walk a short time later and she was rushed to hospital in critical condition, according to police.

It's unclear how Harper ended up in the riveror how she got out.

Anyone who saw Harper on Friday night or early Saturday morning, or has any information related tothe attack,is asked to call the Winnipeg Police Service's homicide unit at (204) 986-6508.

The homicide unit is investigating the casebecause officers initially did not know if Harper, who was found unconscious near the bridge, was going to survive the ordeal.

Smyth said Harper has recovered enough to talk to officers, and it's believed she will survive.

He would not say much about her injuries, or whether she had any information about her attacker or attackers.