Dozens participated in Walk Against Violence in Val-d'Or, Quebec, on October 24, 2015. A second event, drawing hundreds, was held on October 25. Photo by Minnie Mary Coonishish / Facebook
Eight police officers in Val-d'Or, Quebec, have been placed on leave or transferred to administrative duty following allegations of abuse against Native women. Radio-Canada's Enquête program aired an explosive report last Thursday that detailed two decades of abuse in the remote community. Native women said they were driven to the edge of town and forced to walk home. Some were beaten and assaulted and some were forced to perform sex acts on the officers. "As a husband, father and grandfather my heart breaks for all women who are violated instead of honored and respected for the incredible gifts that they are to our families and our communities. I will stand with these brave women and anyone else who will work to bring an end to violence against First Nations Women," Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come of the Grand Council of Crees said in a press release following the report. According to news reports, at least 14 complaints have been opened against officers in Val-d'Or. Native women advocates expect more to be filed as more women in the community come forward. One resident told CBC News that she was aware of at least 30 potential victims. "A national tragedy is unfolding here, right at our doorstep Édith Cloutier, the executive director, of the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre, said in a press release. "The hard-hitting testimonials of these Aboriginal women ─ who are also grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives ─ straightforwardly express the injustice and systemic racism that keep Aboriginal people on the fringe of society and contribute to their cultural, community and political confinement." According to CBC News, about 50 officers are stationed in Val-d'Or. So the eight officers who are facing an investigation represent a significant percentage of the current force. A ninth officer was also accused of abuse but is deceased, CBC reported. Native people represent about 6 percent of the population in the city, according to Statistics Canada. Get the Story:
Val-d’Or abuse allegations against Quebec officers spark protest (The Globe and Mail 10/26)
March held in Val-d'Or for aboriginal women alleging Quebec police sex abuse (CBC 10/25)
Native Affairs minister met with leaders in Val d'Or after sex abuse relevations (CBC 10/25)
More aboriginal women allege abuse by police in Val-d'Or, Que. (CBC 10/23)
Quebec police officers put on leave pending sex abuse investigation (CBC 10/23)
Cree gov't to cancel events in Val-d'Or after SQ sex abuse allegations (CBC 10/23)
Quebec politicians, activists stunned by aboriginal women's sex assault allegations (CBC 10/22)
Aboriginal women's claims of police sex abuse under investigation (CBC 10/22)
Quebec to look at violence faced by aboriginal women (CBC 10/21)
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