The head of Lake St. Martin has pleaded not guilty after being accused of sexual assault

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The leader of a First Nations organization accused of sexually abusing a child has declared his innocence and said he has no plans to voluntarily step down from his leadership position.

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Charges of sexual assault, molestation and child pornography were announced Wednesday against Chief Christopher Travers of the Lake St. Martin First Nation.

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The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) confirmed the head of the Interlake community, about 200 kilometers north of Winnipeg, was arrested in February and court records confirm the alleged crimes took place on December 29 and involved an elementary school-aged child. . Travers was released on bond.

On Wednesday, Travers maintained his innocence on Facebook and said he would and will continue to cooperate with police even if criminal charges are filed.

“Regarding the allegations made against me in the media: they are untrue,” Travers wrote. “I have maintained my innocence from day one and will continue to do so. I am prepared to take this matter with the Winnipeg Police Service, including taking a polygraph to prove my innocence.”

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The regional court session is scheduled for July 3.

“As the investigation in this case is ongoing, I cannot give details. However, I can confirm that I will continue to cooperate with the authorities and I want the truth to be revealed: that I am innocent,” he wrote.

“This is a serious issue that affects my personal and professional reputation. I am grateful for the support of my family, friends and colleagues as I move forward with this matter.”

He said he believes he can serve as a leader in his community despite the allegations.

“I want to assure the community of Lake St. Martin First Nation that I will overcome this obstacle and continue to work for our community,” he said.

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The Tribal Council of the Interlake Reserve, which includes seven First Nations including Lake St. Martin, was made aware of the allegations last week. Travers is a board member of the organization.

Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean, who chairs the tribal council, said Wednesday an emergency meeting will be held next week to determine next steps. They may ask Travers to resign or suspend him until the case is resolved.

Police said they did not publicly announce the charges after Travers was first arrested.

“Investigators did not believe that the defendant's position of trust/authority was a factor in the commission of this crime,” WPS spokeswoman Dani McKinnon said in an email. “WPS contacted the community about the nature of the arrest at the time.”

— With Canadian Press files

— Dave Baxter is a local journalism initiative reporter based out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Indigenous Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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