Victims of abuse by ex-Wemotaci police chief speak out
When Jean-Paul Néashish was chief of police in Wemotaci, he used his power to scare his victims into silence.
But with Néashish now behind bars, his victims are speaking out. And they are encouraging others to do the same.
Néashish, a former police chief and band councillor in the Attikamekw community northwest of Quebec City, was convicted in December of 10 criminal charges that included rape and sexual abuse.
Radio-Canada obtained exclusive interviews with three of the five women hurt by Néashish. Their testimony was vital to the investigation that led to his conviction.
Néashish was either chief or on the Wemotaci First Nation police force for 13 years in the 70s and 80s.
It was during those years that he committed most of the crimes. Two of the attacks happened when he was in uniform, and was supposed to be helping women who were intoxicated.
'He told me not to tell anyone'
Néashish's position in the community made his victims feel as if he would never be held accountable for his actions.
"I would look outside and wonder where I would go if I escaped," one victim, who asked to be identified simply as Sarah, told Radio-Canada.
She was sexually assaulted by Néashish while disoriented from medication and alcohol.
"He used his power as a police officer… he told me not to tell anyone and that no one would believe me anyway."
Sarah kept her attack to herself for many years. Until she was contacted by a police officer building a case against Néashish, she thought she was his only victim.
Now she wants to encourage other victims of abuse to come forward.
"They should keep their heads high and turn inwards for strength," Sarah said. "There will be someone, somewhere, who believes them."
Sympathy for Val d'Or victims
Sarah also expressed sympathy for the aboriginal women of Val d'Or who alleged recently that they were sexually assaulted by provincial police officers.
An investigation by the Radio-Canada program Enquête last year uncovered several stories of sexual violence in the town, which is located close to several Algonquin communities. A Montreal police investigation into the allegations in Val-d'Or is ongoing.
"I'm really not the only person who has undergone abuse like this," Sarah said.
Another of Néashish's victims acknowledged feeling relieved upon learning he had been found guilty of most of the charges he faced.
"I told myself we didn't stand up for nothing," the woman said. She joined Sarah in encouraging other survivors of abuse to speak out.
"It's important to report these things, first of all for yourself. It is a heavy weight to carry."
Néashish is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20.
