Tom Fennario
APTN National News
The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (ANFQL) is asking the Quebec government to add two Indigenous investigators to an investigation into allegations of abuse by Quebec’s provincial police, the Surete du Quebec (SQ), APTN National News has learned.
AFNQL Chief Ghislain Picard has drafted a letter to Quebec Premier Phillip Couillard asking that Mylène Trudeau, Abenaki, and Derek St-Cyr, a James Bay Cree, work side by side with the investigating team already in place.
Both are experienced police investigators working in First Nations communities.
“At the very least, they can have two of our Indigenous officers working with the Montreal police, who we do not trust to properly investigate the SQ,” said Kanesatake Mohawk Territory Grand Chief Serge Simon who took part in the meeting where the decision was made to draft the letter.
Background on Val D’Or abuse allegations
Eight members of Val d’Or’s SQ are facing 14 allegations of physical, and in some cases, sexual abuse against 12 Indigenous women in the Val d’Or region. Those officers are currently on leave and not patrolling the community.
Investigations are currently being conducted by Montreal police under the observation of a human rights lawyer.
