Latest news with #TsuutinaNation
CTV News
08-08-2025
- CTV News
First Nations chief facing sexual assault charges
The chief of Tsuut'ina Nation is facing sexual assault charges in connection with two offences that took place in Edmonton more than 20 years ago.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Yahoo
Tsuut'ina Nation chief, 71, charged with two historic Edmonton sexual assaults: EPS
The 71-year-old chief of Tsuut'ina Nation in southern Alberta has been charged with two historic Edmonton sexual assaults on men, city police announced Thursday afternoon. In the first case reported in early 1994, a 33-year-old man was sexually assaulted in west Edmonton near 178 Street and 87 Avenue, police said in an afternoon news release. More than a decade later, in the summer of 2005, it was reported that a 38-year-old male had been sexually assaulted near Stony Plain Road and 178 Street, also in west Edmonton. Two decades passed before Edmonton police were made aware in November 2024 of the 1994 sexual assault. An investigation was launched and, subsequently in May of 2025, Edmonton police were made aware of the 2005 sexual assault. Both complainants are also from Tsuut'ina Nation, about 312 km south of Edmonton, are known to the suspect but unknown to one another, said Edmonton investigators. 'We understand that offences of this nature can be unsettling to community members, especially when they pertain to individuals who were in positions of authority and were often relied on for leadership and guidance,' Det. Brian McGuigan with the EPS' Sexual Assault Section said in a statement. 'Given the historic nature of these occurrences, our investigators are letting members of the public know that it's ok to come forward and share your experiences with us. We want to ensure that we investigate any additional reports of events that happened in Edmonton so that we can be a part of meaningful healing for this community and those who may have been harmed…' Roy Albert Whitney was arrested by Edmonton Police Service members in Calgary on Wednesday. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault. In 2019, the longtime former chief of the Tsuut'ina Nation returned to the job. He defeated incumbent candidate Lee Crowchild after receiving a majority of votes. Whitney originally served as chief for 17 years, from 1984 to 2001. In 2012, he defeated five-term chief Sandford Big Plume and served again until he was defeated by Crowchild in the 2016 election. Whitney was at the helm in 2013 when the Tsuut'ina Nation agreed to a deal with the province for construction of the southwest ring road, which included $340 million in cash and a land swap. Edmonton police when announcing the charges thanked the Calgary Police Service for assisting with the investigations. Anyone with more information about the case is asked to contact the Edmonton police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. The EPS can also provide appropriate support. Related Roy Whitney returns as Tsuut'ina chief following election win Calgary's southwest ring road will be dubbed Tsuut'ina Trail You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
CTV News
07-08-2025
- CTV News
BREAKING: Tsuut'ina Nation chief charged in 2 historical sexual assaults
Tsuut'ina First Nation Chief Roy Whitney, seen in this video clip from 2022, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault by the Edmonton Police Service in connection with incidents in 1994 and 2005. (File) Tsuut'ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney has been charged with sexual assault by the Edmonton Police Service. EPS says the offences involved two adult males. The first incident, in early 1994, involved a 33-year-old man who said he was assaulted in the area of 178 Street and 87 Avenue. The second incident, in summer 2005, involved a 38-year-old man who was allegedly assaulted in the area of Stony Plain Road and 178 Street. Police were notified about the first assault in November 2024 and, during the investigation, learned about the second assault this past May. Whitney, 71, was arrested in Calgary and charged with two counts of sexual assault. Officials say the details of the incident may be unsettling, especially given that the accused is in a position of power in his community. However, EPS said releasing the information is important given the historic nature of the offences. 'Our investigators are letting members of the public know that it's OK to come forward and share your experiences with us,' said Det. Brian McGuigan with the EPS sexual assault section. 'We want to ensure that we investigate any additional reports of events that happened in Edmonton so that we can be a part of meaningful healing for this community and those who may have been harmed by this individual.' Anyone who believes they have been victimized by the accused is asked to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. EPS can also provide appropriate support.
CTV News
07-08-2025
- CTV News
Tsuut'ina Nation chief charged in 2 historical sexual assaults in Edmonton
Tsuut'ina First Nation Chief Roy Whitney, seen in this video clip from 2022, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault by the Edmonton Police Service in connection with incidents in 1994 and 2005. (File) Tsuut'ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney has been charged with sexual assault by the Edmonton Police Service. EPS says the offences involved two adult males. The first incident, in early 1994, involved a 33-year-old man who said he was assaulted in the area of 178 Street and 87 Avenue. The second incident, in summer 2005, involved a 38-year-old man who was allegedly assaulted in the area of Stony Plain Road and 178 Street. Police were notified about the first assault in November 2024 and, during the investigation, learned about the second assault this past May. Whitney, 71, was arrested in Calgary and charged with two counts of sexual assault. Officials say the details of the incident may be unsettling, especially given that the accused is in a position of power in his community. However, EPS said releasing the information is important given the historic nature of the offences. 'Our investigators are letting members of the public know that it's OK to come forward and share your experiences with us,' said Det. Brian McGuigan with the EPS sexual assault section. 'We want to ensure that we investigate any additional reports of events that happened in Edmonton so that we can be a part of meaningful healing for this community and those who may have been harmed by this individual.' Anyone who believes they have been victimized by the accused is asked to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. EPS can also provide appropriate support.
CBC
07-08-2025
- CBC
Edmonton police charge Tsuut'ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney with 2 counts of sexual assault
Edmonton police have charged 71-year-old Tsuut'ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney with sexual assault in relation to alleged offences against two men decades ago. Police said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon that the first offence occurred in "the early months" of 1994, when a 33-year-old male was sexually assaulted "in the area of 178 Street and 87 Avenue in Edmonton." The second offence is alleged to have occurred in "the summer of 2005," police said, when a 38-year-old male was sexually assaulted "in the area of Stony Plain Road and 178 Street in Edmonton." Police say they were initially alerted to the 1994 incident in November 2024. As they investigated, they then became aware of the 2005 incident and launched a separate investigation into that incident in May of this year. "The complainants, who are both from Tsuut'ina Nation, are known to the suspect but unknown to one another," police said. Whitney was arrested by Edmonton police on Wednesday and charged with two counts of sexual assault. 'There may be additional complainants' "We understand that offences of this nature can be unsettling to community members, especially when they pertain to individuals who were in positions of authority and were often relied on for leadership and guidance," Det. Brian McGuigan with the Edmonton Police Service's Sexual Assault Section said in the news release. "Given the historic nature of these occurrences, our investigators are letting members of the public know that it's OK to come forward and share your experiences with us. We want to ensure that we investigate any additional reports of events that happened in Edmonton so that we can be a part of meaningful healing for this community and those who may have been harmed by this individual." Edmonton police also said "there may be additional complainants" and are asking "anyone who believes they have been victimized by the accused" to reach out to them at at 780-423-4567 or by dialling #377 from a mobile phone. Edmonton police said the Calgary Police Service assisted in the investigations.
