Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs votes to remove suspended Grand Chief Arlen Dumas

The Meeting of Manitoba Chief has voted to take away suspended Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, and publicly apologized to the 2 ladies who got here ahead with allegations of sexual misconduct.

At a particular basic meeting held in Winnipeg on Friday, dozens of Manitoba chiefs held a non-confidence vote to formally take away Dumas from his place, following accusations he sexually harassed and assaulted an worker.

Interim Grand Chief Cornell McLean informed CBC Information that 30 voted in favour of instantly eradicating the grand chief, and 13 voted towards.

“On behalf of the meeting, we now have to [apologize], as a result of we have to defend them from issues like this taking place,” McLean mentioned.

Dumas was suspended in March pending an investigation into allegations he engaged in office sexual harassment and sexually assaulted an worker, who on the time was nameless. The worker filed a police report, however no expenses have been laid.

McLean apologized to Shauna Fontaine, who got here ahead publicly in June as the worker who filed the criticism, and expressed her disappointment in AMC and the police’s response to her report.

He additionally apologized to Bethany Maytwayashing, who accused Dumas of sending inappropriate textual content messages to her in 2019.

In response to Fontaine’s allegations, the meeting ordered a third-party investigation, which discovered that Dumas engaged in office sexual harassment.

Earlier this week, Dumas introduced he could be in search of trauma-based therapy to “start therapeutic not solely from the occasions of the previous 5 months but in addition a lifetime of trauma,” he mentioned in a information launch.

He didn’t seem Friday on the particular basic meeting, regardless of AMC asking his legal professionals for him to attend nearly. He has beforehand denied the allegations.

Dumas was first elected as AMC grand chief in 2017, and was re-elected final summer time.

In an emailed information launch after the vote, the meeting mentioned a byelection will probably be held on Oct. 19 to elect a substitute. Till then, McLean will proceed as appearing grand chief.