Chief Says Assault On Baby “Unacceptable”
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 14:14
The chief of the Clearwater River Dene Nation is speaking out about an assault against a baby on the reserve last week.
Roy Cheecham says his community is quite upset about the situation, which has resulted in the arrest of a 49-year-old man.
Cheecham says “these sorts of things are very much frowned upon and unacceptable”.
Richard Carlos Fontaine faces charges of aggravated assault against the two-month-old girl, as well as failing to provide the necessities of life.
He has been remanded in custody until a bail hearing on Monday.
The baby is now in the care of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.
Cheecham notes there have been issues with the accused in the past that resulted in him being evicted from his home on the reserve.
The chief says another person who was living at the house where the assault allegedly took place also has been ordered to leave.
Meantime, Cheecham says some concerns have been brought forward about another person on the reserve who is alleged to have committed serious child abuse.
He says the band has hired lawyers to steer them through the legalities of removing people from the reserve.