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Mother of First Nations sexual assault victim wants public inquiry

The mother of a First Nations woman whose reported abduction and sexual assault is under investigation by police in Thunder Bay, Ont., as a possible hate crime calls the incident "horrific," and is pushing for an inquiry into violence against aboriginal women.

The 36-year-old victim told police she was dragged into a car by two men on Dec. 27 and driven to a rural location, where she was sexually assaulted.

Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime because the woman reported a number of racist remarks were made by her attackers.

The woman’s mother told CBC News she she’s speaking out “because I wouldn’t want any other mother to experience this; it’s pretty horrific.”

CBC is not revealing the mother’s name, to protect the identity of her daughter.

She said she is certain her daughter wasn’t the first victim of the attackers, and she’s worried she won’t be the last.

“It’s obvious to me that these men are serial rapists,” she said, after sitting with her daughter while she made her statement to police.

The mother is calling for an inquiry into violence against aboriginal women in Thunder Bay.

She said systemic racism leads to First Nations women being targeted by perpetrators, dismissed by police and ignored by the justice system.

Other victims should come forward now with their experiences of violence in the city, she said.

“All I want is justice for my daughter ... It’s going to take an incredible amount of support for my daughter to heal from this brutality," she said.

“I’m not going to let this go.”