WARNING | This story contains details of the sexual abuse of a child.
A Manitoba First Nation chief charged with the sexual assault of an elementary school-aged child was removed from a regional tribal council this week.
Lake St. Martin Chief Christopher Traverse was removed from the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council’s (IRTC’s) board of directors in an emergency meeting Thursday, said Lake Manitoba Chief Cornell McLean, the board’s chair. Brad Beardy, a Lake St. Martin councillor, was appointed as his temporary replacement.
Traverse was arrested by Winnipeg police in February and charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, as well as possessing and making child pornography, in connection to alleged offences that took place in Winnipeg on or about Dec. 29, 2023.
“It didn’t sit well with us,” McLean told Radio-Canada on Friday.
The IRTC represents seven communities in Manitoba’s Interlake region, which is about 190 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg between the province’s two biggest lakes — Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba.
Traverse was not immediately available to comment.
Under the First Nations Election Act, a chief or councillor ceases to hold their seat if convicted of a crime and given a sentence of more than 30 days. They can also lose their seat in other ways, including through a petition.
During an in-person interview with CBC last week, Traverse maintained his innocence and said he was released following his arrest.
He also said he would not resign as chief, although elders from Lake St. Martin have called for his resignation in light of the charges.
Traverse previously served as a councillor and was elected chief in July 2022 for the Interlake-area First Nation of nearly 3,000 people, located more than 200 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.
The IRTC “unequivocally condemns” Traverse’s alleged actions in the charges, it said in a Friday news release. Beardy will act as his replacement on the board until a new chief for the Lake St. Martin is elected.
McLean said Traverse was removed based on the council’s beliefs and what elders in the Lake St. Martin community wanted.
The tribal council has also advised Traverse to step down as chief of Lake St. Martin, he said.
“Everybody’s innocent until proven guilty,” McLean said. “It’s up to the community, it’s not up to IRTC whether Chief Traverse will be back or not.”
“We’re not going to condemn anybody, but we’re going to support the community 100 per cent on what we can do to help them move forward.”
For anyone who has been sexually assaulted, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.