Former AMC grand chief Arlen Dumas in an undated photo.
Arlen Dumas, the former grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), is being sued by a woman for sexual battery.
According to an Aug. 30 statement of claim filed in Winnipeg, the woman, who APTN News is choosing not to name due to the nature of the allegations, claims “The Defendant committed sexual battery against the Plaintiff on at least eight occasions.”
The woman says on one occasion, Dumas “overpowered her, put her on her stomach on the bed, wrapped his arms tightly around her to restrain her and forcibly sexually penetrated her.”
According to the claim, the woman was the acting director general at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) at the time of the alleged incidents, and worked closely with Dumas, who was grand chief at the time.
“The Defendant immediately created a hostile working environment for the Plaintiff,” the statement claims. “He texted her inappropriate comments and late into the evening. He often called the Plaintiff by pet-names and made unwelcome comments on her appearance.
“He took every opportunity he could to manufacture scenarios when he would be alone with the Plaintiff.”
APTN has reached out to Dumas’s lawyer, but didn’t hear back by the time this article was posted.
Calls to the woman’s lawyer were not answered.
None of the allegations have been tested in court. Dumas has not been charged with a crime.
The woman also alleges that “on numerous occasions” Dumas would schedule work meetings after hours and “asked the Plaintiff to dinner.”
“The defendant rarely made himself available during regular work hours to meet with the Plaintiff,” the statement says.
The woman reported the alleged assaults to the Winnipeg Police Service in March 2022. AMC found the woman’s complaints were substantiated by a third-party investigation, according to the claim.
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In August 2022, Dumas was removed as grand chief.
In 2019, Bethany Maytwayashing of Winnipeg came forward on Facebook saying that she was receiving unwanted texts from an unknown number she believed belonged to Dumas after she met him at a local restaurant. Dumas denied the accusation.
A source confirmed to APTN the texts came from a phone number used by Dumas.
Later, three women came to APTN saying they received texts similar to those sent Maytwayashing – either on Facebook or from phone numbers belonging to Dumas.
Dumas’s former wife also voiced concerns about Dumas messaging women on his phone and computer in public court documents detailing their marriage break up.
The claim says the woman is seeking damages of $426,000 for mental anguish, loss of dignity and medical care.
AMC is comprised of chiefs from 62 member First Nations in Manitoba.
Dumas has 20 days to file a statement of defence.
