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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kinew pitching Indigenous Crown entity to review, approve economic projects
The Manitoba government is proposing a new Crown corporation to proactively assemble Indigenous leaders for reviews and approvals of economic development projects. Premier Wab Kinew started meeting with First Nations and Métis policy-makers in the spring to pitch a 'Crown Indigenous corporation.' 'We need future generations of our people to know that, although we recognize and we stand firm in our treaty, we're willing, at times, to compromise and to make accommodations… that make sense, and this might make sense,' said Derek Nepinak, chief of Minegoziibe Anishinabe, also known as Pine Creek First Nation. The corporation is not simply a board to discuss co-management, but rather one that would create revenue streams with concrete benefits for the Anishinaabe people, Nepinak said. His initial understanding is that First Nations people would be represented on the governing board with just under half of all director seats. Brainstorming is taking place against the backdrop of a Canada-United States trade war and Prime Minister Mark Carney's related push to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. Kinew's office declined to comment on the initiative because of its early stage, but multiple sources confirmed the short-term goal is to secure federal dollars for local 'nation-building' projects. Such projects develop trade corridors, create good-paying unionized jobs and bolster Canada's energy production and natural resource development, as per Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. The federal legislation, a direct response to U.S. tariffs, allows cabinet to accelerate the approval of initiatives that fall into this category. It received royal assent on June 26, despite pushback from Indigenous groups that have raised concerns projects could be rammed through without their meaningful input. Exactly three months ago, Kinew penned a letter to the then-newly elected Carney to identify Manitoba's top development-related priorities. That list named expanding activity at the Port of Churchill, twinning the Trans-Canada Highway and fast-tracking exploration and extraction in the mineral-rich North. 'We can't forget what's at stake. We're at war with the United States. Maybe it's not a physical war where we're shooting guns or rockets, but it is a war that could cause so much damage and could hurt a lot of people,' said David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Chartrand, who oversees the MMF's economic development ministry, said he's worried about the growing financial stress his citizens and their neighbours are facing across the country. There's an urgency required to show Ottawa 'we're ready' as a province to undertake billion-dollar projects, he said. As far as Chartrand is concerned, establishing a board-run entity with proactive, built-in consultation processes would do just that. Pine Creek's chief echoed those comments, although Nepinak has trepidations about how the CIC will operate and the potential for projects to negatively affect waterways. He noted that consultation with Indigenous peoples who could be adversely affected by a nation-building project is explicitly spelled out in Bill C-5. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is meeting later this month to discuss what's at stake with the Crown corporation concept. Nepinak said his conflicting feelings are tied to First Nations maintaining they have unceded title to land and resources in their traditional territories, and that has not been affirmed by the province. At the same time, government officials have extended an olive branch that could yield concrete benefits for Anishinaabe people, he said. He suggested this particular partnership could prove to be one example where compromise makes sense, owing to its potential to drive revenue and bolster the Canadian economy during a particularly difficult time. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Nepinak said there's potential to raise revenue not only through commodities that come of new ventures, but also procurement and taxation. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak confirmed its involvement in meetings about the matter. The Manitoba Inuit Association indicated its leadership team was aware of the proposal, but it had not been contacted directly to discuss it. There are currently five Crown corporations in the province: Manitoba Hydro; Manitoba Public Insurance; Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries; Manitoba Centennial Centre Corp.; and Efficiency Manitoba. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘We need you to be our ally': Josie Nepinak on Canada Day, ‘ongoing genocide,' and walking a ‘shared path' toward reconciliation
For Josie Nepinak, July 1 marks a day of reflection as an Indigenous leader, grandmother and member of her community. The president of the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC), Nepinak views Canada Day as an opportunity — not to erase painful history, but to reflect, to educate, and to walk a 'shared path' forward. 'Canada's birthday is July 1, but it's everyone's birthday, in the fact that we can celebrate who we are collectively,' says Nepinak. 'It's not about the differences that we have. It really is about the commonalities we need to focus on.' Nepinak's work as NWAC's president is rooted in initiatives to advocate for the rights, well-being, and advancement of Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people across Canada. Her focus is on stopping what she calls an 'ongoing genocide' — a crisis that continues to devastate her community, particularly through the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). As we focus on the direction of the country this Canada Day, Nepinak's message is clear: 'We, as Indigenous, need you. We need you to be our ally. We need you to be our voice. Because sometimes our voice is not enough,' says Nepinak. 'As First Nations people of this country, we have the opportunity to create that friendship, in a shared path of reconciliation. Not one behind the other, but as equal partners.' Yahoo News Canada presents 'My Canada," a series spotlighting Canadians — born-and-raised to brand new — sharing their views on the Canadian dream, national identity, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with life inside and outside these borders. As July 1 rolls in, it marks the end of National Indigenous History Month in Canada, highlighted by National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. Another important day is June 3, this time marking the sixth anniversary of the National Inquiry's Final Report, "Reclaiming Power and Place," on MMIWG. The report documents the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women. It concludes with 231 'Calls for Justice' to aid in reconciliation efforts. But six years later, progress is stagnant. Of the 231 Calls for Justice, only two have been fully completed. 'If we were to do a report card on this issue, we would definitely give it a failing grade as to the action on the inquiry,' says Nepinak. The NWAC president believes the 'Government of Canada needs to have a serious look at why these recommendations are not implemented," since it's "ultimately about saving the lives of Canada's most vulnerable people.' On a daily basis, Nepinak scrolls social media to see new faces of women and girls who have gone missing. According to Stats-Can data from 2009-21, Indigenous women are murdered at a rate six times higher than non-Indigenous counterparts. Thousands upon thousands have been ripped away from their communities, oftentimes with very few answers. 'It certainly is ongoing genocide. It certainly is a disappointment and a huge frustration for Indigenous peoples across the country, especially Indigenous women, who have been fighting for decades for this issue of actionable items.'Josie Nepinak, President of Native Women's Association Canada Forty-eight years ago, Nepinak's advocacy for this issue began as a teenager. It was when her aunt was murdered in Winnipeg, a city that's the epicentre for MMIWG. In 2011, Nepinak's cousin, Tanya, also went missing. Police believe she was murdered, with an initial charge being laid against Sean Lamb. The charge was ultimately stayed after police weren't able to find her body. Lamb has in turn been convicted of killing two other Indigenous women. In regards to her aunt's case, 48 years later, her murderer has never been found. 'There is no accountability. We continue to grieve for her, for her and her children, who are now the grandchildren that she was never able to hold. … All of those issues matter, because when you have that empty seat, whether at your dinner table, your special events, birthday parties, you do feel that loss,' says Nepinak. 'Whether it's 48 years ago or whether it was last week, it still can feel the same.' Nepinak's work is rooted in making sure that no other family has to experience the same pain. Starting in 1963 at five years old, until her late-teenage years, Nepinak attended Pine Creek and Mackay residential schools in Manitoba. It's a period of her life she doesn't speak about publicly, instead she focuses on doing what she can do to heal. She suffers from PTSD, as she started to recognize symptoms as an adult, such as anxiety and depression. Nepinak, 66, says she always struggled with the word 'survivor' in its association with those who attended residential schools, since the trauma continues to impact their communities. 'If we have survived,' why are there ongoing problems with the MMIWG epidemic, along with high rates of suicide, mortality, homelessness and addiction among Indigenous peoples, asks the NWAC president. 'There are thousands of Indigenous women, thousands of Indigenous children across this country who do not have their mothers ... which in turn will make them vulnerable as well,' says Nepinak. Trauma in Indigenous communities continues to form, while it's also passed on from previous generations. That can be from epigenetics, to continuing patterns of abuse that were experienced in places such as residential schools, where thousands of Indigenous kids died. Along with policies geared toward assimilation, these institutions have a history of physical and sexual violence, up until the last school was closed in 1997. According to a Stats-Can 2023 report, 26 per cent of Indigenous women have experienced childhood sexual violence, compared to 9.2 per cent of non-Indigenous women. Thirteen per cent of Indigenous peoples with a current or ex-partner experienced violence in the past five years, double the rate of non-Indigenous people (5.7 per cent). These problems force many to leave their communities, such as First Nation reserves. It's in hope for a different life, oftentimes in urban centres, such as Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver. It's on these journeys where Indigenous women have been killed, such as on B.C.'s infamous Highway of Tears. But it's also when they arrive in urban centres, where neglect continues as they struggle to find a sense of belonging and safety. When I say genocide, folks are not comfortable with it, it makes people anxious. … I would ask people to look at it within the context of the Indigenous women's experience in Nepinak, President of Native Women's Association Canada Throughout history, Indigenous women have especially been targeted with genocidal policies, in an effort to 'get rid of the Indian in this country,' says Nepinak. From forced sterilization, to the removal of their children during the Sixties Scoop, to how the Indian Act has sought to enfranchise them and their predecessors. 'The target were the women, because it's the women who are the caregivers, the nurturers, the medicine pickers, the women who hold the clan mothers, who hold communities together,' says Nepinak. By being a status Indian, Indigenous peoples are afforded certain rights, such as being able to live on reserve land, while being entitled to programs and services from federal and provincial governments. Many have lost their status and have become enfranchised; that includes voluntary cases, in an effort to avoid having their children attend residential schools. Nepinak originally lost her Indian-status after getting married to a non-Indigenous person in 1978. It was a rule that was not applied to Indigenous men; instead in their case, they could even pass on their status to non-Indigenous women. Nepinak was able to reclaim her status after an amendment to the Act in 1985. However, due to her daughter also marrying a non-Indigenous person, it means that her grandson doesn't currently qualify for treaty rights, as he falls under 'a second generation cut-off.' The NWAC president finds it "disgusting" that someone in Ottawa is able to make the decision whether or not a member of her family can qualify for Indian status. She calls the experience in relation to her grandson 'very painful.' Currently, as of June 2025, Bill S-2 is before the Canadian Senate, with the goal of addressing the inequities of the Indian Act to help more Indigenous peoples reclaim status. Nepinak says that by becoming enfranchised, it pushes 'Indigenous, First Nations women further and further into the margins, by stripping them of their individual rights and benefits.' These problems become even more polarizing as they start 'floating between' their community and urban centres, as they lose financial and social services, along with a connection to their culture. The NWAC president says the role of their organization is to be empathetic, non-judgmental, and to provide resources to help those in their communities, whether they live on a reserve and have Indian status, or not. One of their pillar programs is the Safe Passage initiative. Along with hosting a database that works to capture the extent of this genocide, it provides resources and guidances for those in need, while finding ways to help them stay connected to their culture. Nepinak calls on the federal government to allocate more resources, such as toward intersecting issues around human trafficking, housing, mental health supports, emergency shelters and transitional homes. Without these resources, women become more vulnerable to survival economies, such as sex work. A 2011 City of Vancouver study found that 40 per cent of sex workers are Indigenous, despite making up two per cent of Vancouver's population. It's problems like these that make truth and reconciliation an ongoing process, and not just the focus of a few days during the year. Nepinak wants municipalities, and the systems small and large surrounding them, to not get in the habit of displaying the 'wooden Indian.' It's an analogy that refers to the practice of making Indigenous peoples front and centre just for special occasions. 'That's not reconciliation,' says Nepinak. 'That, to me, just doesn't sit well, because if truly you're going to appreciate Indigenous peoples … get to know our culture, our language, who we are, what our history is, and that includes the ugly history.' It's a collective responsibility, through all levels of government and our education system. Along with learning the history, Nepinak believes it's important people learn the values of Indigenous communities, to help create a society where they'll feel accepted and understood. This agenda becomes more important with the recent wave of immigration that Canada has experienced, says Nepinak, as new Canadians have a chance to learn what truly makes the fabric of Canada. The NWAC president has noticed a shift in how July 1 is perceived among her communities. Five years ago, she says, it was more common to hear people dismiss the thought of marking the day, behind the belief of 'That's not my Canada.' Now, for Nepinak, it holds a different meaning. While it might not be the case for everyone, she sees it as an opportunity to come together and move forward, knowing that Indigenous peoples need to recognize their trauma and where it comes from in order to 'begin to heal.' For NWAC, moving forward is about finding ways that Indigenous people can contribute to Canada's economy, as they help thousands of Indigenous women across the country toward their business goals. The 'Be The Drum' program leads that charge, from providing business coaching, to helping participants become aware of financial resources, such as grants to help expand their markets. Ultimately, it's about 'finding your space within a society that's not always been nice to Indigenous people,' says Nepinak, as we strive toward 'mino bimaadiziwin,' a Anishinaabemowin phrase for the 'good life.' For non-Indigenous people, it's about creating an environment for all parts of Canada's society to thrive, which can mean questioning your 'own self perceived thoughts on what Indigenous people are like.' It's the conversations around reconciliation that are the 'easy part.' Instead it's the actions that will challenge us, says Nepinak, as she references the late-Murray Sinclair. 'We require in truth and reconciliation to have all Canadians stand with us on the issues that matter,' says Nepinak. 'I believe that July 1 is really and truly about the country that we live in, the beautiful country of Canada, that we share, the land, that we share the air that we breathe, and the many systems that have built this country to where we are. … 'Let's have truth and reconciliation, let's have peace, let's have healing, and let's understand each other in a better way so we can reduce some of the systemic racism that happens in this country.'
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Changing that system': daughter of murder victim sees progress on Red Dress Day
A year ago on Red Dress Day, Cambria Harris pleaded with the Manitoba government to search the landfill for the remains of her murdered mother. 'One year later, I can officially say that we were right,' Harris said Monday afternoon after speaking to a group of about 50 people at the University of Manitoba. 'We searched the Prairie Green Landfill, and we finally are changing that system.' Harris, 24, delivered a 60-minute keynote that covered a myriad of personal stories about her and Morgan Harris, who was slain by convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki. Her remains were found in March after a search at the landfill north of Winnipeg. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Hundreds of people walked from Memorial Park to The Forks during the annual Red Dress Day memorial walk, Monday morning in Winnipeg. Harris spoke at length about the difficulties she faced in receiving justice for her mother and three other victims, Ashlee Shingoose, Marcedes Myran and Rebecca Contois, including an unsuccessful discussion with former premier Heather Stefanson about searching the landfill for their remains. The speech was preceded by a traditional Indigenous water and pipe ceremony and was one of several events across Winnipeg for Red Dress Day, held annually across Canada to remember the lives of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Harris said the landfill fight was an example of collective action, but said there was more work to be done. She mentioned Tanya Nepinak, who disappeared in 2011. Police believe her body was dumped in a garbage bin and taken to the Brady Road landfill. Shawn Lamb was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Nepinak and two other women, Lorna Blacksmith and Carolyn Sinclair. He was convicted of manslaughter in the slayings of Blacksmith and Sinclair, but his charges related to Nepinak's death were stayed. Police searched part of the landfill for Nepinak in 2012 but called off the search after a week. No remains have ever been found. Harris said the public needs to continue to pressure authorities to take more action to protecting Indigenous women and girls. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Cambria Harris, daughter of Morgan Harris: 'One year later, I can officially say that we were right.' 'We need to keep holding (the government) accountable so there isn't another Indigenous person standing in front of them asking to search the landfill,' Harris said. Premier Wab Kinew has since spoken to Nepinak's family about a possible search for her remains. Also Monday, the Manitoba government announced a $15-million MMIWG2S+ Healing and Empowerment Endowment Fund it established last year accrued more than $350,000 and it would be giving the money to five Indigenous organizations to support families of MMIWG. The province will split the funds between Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the Southern Chiefs' Organization, Giganawenimaanaanig, the Manitoba Métis Federation Infinity Women's Secretariat and Tunngasugit. Families can apply for the fund to cover a variety of things, including costs related to searching for missing women and girls, funerals, headstones and school tuition for family members. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Drumming and singing, dressed in red and carrying signs and banners, hundreds walked along Broadway to Main Street then north to York Avenue where they entered The Forks and made their way to the Oodena Circle. Manitoba is Canada's only jurisdiction to have an endowment fund operate in perpetuity to support MMIWG families and related organizations, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said. 'What that means is that MMIWG2S+ families across the country don't have the means to be able to access dollars that they might need,' she said at the announcement. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. Elsewhere, hundreds walked from Memorial Park to The Forks as part of the Red Dress Day memorial walk. People dressed in red walked along Broadway to Main Street drumming, singing and holding signs and banners. The walk ended at Oodena Circle at The Forks where there was more drumming, guest speakers and the opportunity to smudge. Back at the university, Harris said community events and continuing dialogue surrounding MMIWG is important to address the ongoing crisis. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Drumming continued at The Forks as people settled on the grass, with very little shade and the temperature soared to almost 28C. 'When we collectively come together and acknowledge people such as myself, we're making that change for our future and younger generations,' she said. Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada's Indigenous leaders on losing Pope Francis: ‘An ally and a friend'
Canadian Indigenous leaders bid farewell to 'an ally and a friend' at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, lauding the pontiff for advancing reconciliation efforts with a historic apology for injustices that remain raw for many. Gov-Gen. Gen. Mary Simon and chiefs Wilton Littlechild, Phil Fontaine and Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak were among the thousands of dignitaries and Catholic faithful who filled St. Peter's Square to honour Francis and his dedication to a myriad of issues, including concerns facing migrants, marginalized groups and the poor. Afterwards, the head of the Assembly of First Nations remembered Francis for apologizing during his visit to Canada in July 2022 for the Catholic Church's role in widespread abuses at residential schools. 'I stand with people around the world and in mourning the loss of an ally and a friend to First Nations, Pope Francis,' National Chief Nepinak said by phone Saturday, reached on a busy Rome street hours after the mass. 'No other pope before him had done that, had done that work and had apologized, and so I thank him for his life.' Nepinak acknowledged a sad day in marking the pontiff's death, but also a day for looking to the future, 'knowing that we have to still build the relationships and change the conversation on some really difficult issues within the Catholic Church.' Simon, Canada's first Indigenous governor general, said the pontiff's apology for abuses in the residential school system was a significant step in addressing historical injustices. 'I hope that the new pope will carry on the work that Pope Francis was doing,' said Simon, who led the Canadian delegation to Rome. 'The apology was a significant milestone, and we have to continue working together on the journey of reconciliation. The fact that he came to Canada and apologized on Canadian lands, on Indigenous lands, was very significant.' Littlechild said it's important to continue that work for 'our healing journeys.' Nepinak said she, Littlechild and Fontaine met with several Canadian cardinals after the funeral to informally discuss next steps in healing relations between the Church and Indigenous Peoples. 'We talked about some of the work that he had done in the past couple of years. So it was a good day that way, where I was able to build relations with Vatican officials and cardinals and bishops,' she said. The road ahead is not smooth, she added, noting resistance remains among some in the Church and in Indigenous communities to both change and accepting the apology. 'I think it's very raw. And residential schools is just very, still, very raw for Canada.' The papal visit in July 2022 was described as a 'penitential pilgrimage' because Pope Francis insisted on meeting with Indigenous survivors of residential schools and hearing their stories. In Maskwacis, Alta., Francis begged for forgiveness and expressed shame for abuses committed by some members of the Church. In Nunavut, he met survivors who showcased traditional practices banned in residential schools, including dancing, drumming and throat singing. While the visit was recognized as a milestone, some criticized Francis for not naming the crimes and abuses. Others called for action, such as the return of sacred artifacts held by the Vatican. Nepinak said she saw signs of a possible renewed relationship with the Church, noting that when she arrived at the funeral, she initially took her place towards the back of a VIP section. But then a Vatican official approached and pulled her closer to the front. 'I was sitting in the back row, and some of the Vatican officials came and got me, and they brought me up to the stage, closer to his coffin and with the dignitaries up top,' she said. 'I want to be hopeful.' Simon said it's important for the Vatican to continue efforts at reconciliation. 'It's a long process, but you see things moving forward. And I hope that will continue to happen.' About 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools, more than 60 per cent of which were run by the Catholic Church. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2025.
CBC
26-04-2025
- CBC
Woman found not guilty of manslaughter in Brandon man's 2020 overdose death
A woman accused of selling the drugs that killed a Brandon man nearly five years ago has been found not guilty following her trial for manslaughter in the southwestern Manitoba city. Hailey Lepine, 25, had pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence and unlawfully trafficking a controlled substance in connection with the 2020 overdose death of 30-year-old Michael Crede. Justice Elliot Leven, who presided over the judge-only March 25 to 27 trial at the Court of King's Bench in Brandon, acquitted Lepine in an April 16 decision, ruling the Crown had not proved her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Crede died on July 25, 2020, after splitting a gram of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, with his 33-year-old girlfriend, Chrissy Nepinak (who testified at the trial but is not identified by name in Leven's decision). In her March 25 testimony, Nepinak said Crede shook and foamed at the mouth after taking the drugs, and later became unresponsive. A toxicologist testified that Crede had "very, very, very high" levels of MDA in his blood. The body breaks down MDMA into MDA, a related substance within the amphetamine family that can have greater hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. There were no other apparent causes of death, Leven wrote, and the pathologist told court Crede's cause of death was a drug overdose. Nepinak testified she bought the drugs from Lepine, claiming Lepine knew the drugs to be dangerous but sold them anyway. Lepine told the court that never happened. "Have I ever sold a drug to anyone? No," Lepine said on the last day of her trial. In his decision, Leven wrote he did not find Nepinak to be a "credible or reliable witness," adding she demonstrated "extremely poor judgment" by not calling 911 or driving Crede to the hospital. Leven questioned Nepinak's claims that she arranged to buy the drugs from Lepine using Facebook Messenger, noting there was "no physical evidence (e.g. text messages) contradicting anything [Lepine] said." Lepine told court she occasionally used text messages to buy drugs herself, but claimed she didn't have any messages from 2020. She said she never texted or saw Nepinak the day Crede died. Nepinak told the court she deleted the messages about buying drugs out of habit. Leven also noted Lepine freely admitted to using marijuana, cocaine and magic mushrooms, which "bolstered her credibility to some extent." In his decision, Leven wrote he found Nepinak to be "dishonest" when she initially told police the drugs had come from a "friend of a friend," a response he wrote was "calculated to hide something from the police." She testified she didn't initially want to give police a name, but changed her mind when they told her she could help prevent more deaths by telling them where the drugs came from. Leven's decision, though, said "a more plausible explanation is that, when she realized that the police were intent on pursuing the subject, [Nepinak] realized that her 'friend of a friend' answer would no longer be sufficient, and she had to provide a name. "The first name that came to mind was that of the accused." Leven's decision noted that Lepine had dated Nepinak's brother but they had a bad breakup in mid-2020. Lepine claimed he had sold drugs at the time, and that she had previously shared drugs with him and Nepinak. "Providing the name of the accused was a convenient solution to a difficult problem," Leven wrote. "Considering the credible evidence of the accused along with the less credible evidence of [Nepinak], there is obviously a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the accused," he ruled, acquitting Levine of the charges.
