Sex-assault charges against chief stayed

Sexual-assault charges against a chief of a southern Manitoba First Nation were stayed in a Saskatchewan court earlier this month, his lawyer confirmed Monday.

Dakota Plains First Nation Chief Donald Smoke was charged with two counts of sexual assault in Kindersley, Sask., in February. Saskatchewan RCMP said they received a report in June 2024 of alleged sexual assaults against more than one woman that occurred in February of that year.

The matter was set for a jury trial in Saskatoon, but the Crown advised the defence earlier this month that charges would be stayed, said Brain Pfefferle, Smoke’s lawyer.

“This was just, simply put, an allegation that had no merit, that was malicious, and that was brought about without any factual foundation,” Pfefferle told the Free Press Monday.

The charges were formally stayed Sept. 4.

Smoke is the hereditary chief of Dakota Plains, a First Nation southwest of Portage la Prairie with a population of about 300 people. He became chief in 2021 after his father, Orville Smoke, died.

One of the complainants told the Free Press in April she was working for the band with Smoke on a trip to Alberta. She had said she and her friend, who was also working for the band, stopped in a hotel in Kindersley, and were both sexually assaulted that evening.

Pfefferle called the allegations “devastating.” He said Smoke remained in a leadership role while preparing for trial.

“Most importantly to (Smoke), he can get back to the important work that he has to do in his community, one that is facing challenges, like many Indigenous communities across the country, but that’s the work he’s planning on doing,” Pfefferle said.

Child sexual abuse charges against Chief Christopher Traverse of Lake St. Martin First Nation were stayed in June after the alleged victim admitted she had lied.

The trial was held over two days, two months apart. One day of testimony had to be adjourned after Traverse was assaulted outside the Winnipeg law courts building.

Two men, who were not named to protect the identity of the child in the case, were charged with assault.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca