Hay River (Oct 25/04) - A 14-year-old Hay River girl has been charged by police after a Grade 7 student was assaulted at Princess Alexandra school on Oct. 18.

According to RCMP, an 11-year-old victim was shoved down, striking her head and knee. She was otherwise uninjured.

"The assault is more in the nature and consistent with bullying," says the RCMP's Sgt. Greg Downing.

Downing said the 14-year-old, also in Grade 7, had no right to be in the school at the time of the incident since she had been suspended.

Principal Gordon Miller confirmed the incident took place but declined to discuss it in detail, except to say it did not happen during a class.

"I think it was handled very well in collaboration with the RCMP and Social Services," Miller says. The incident was briefly mentioned in the Legislative Assembly last Wednesday by Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen, while speaking about an "emerging crisis" of vandalism and violence among NWT youth.

She called for government action to deal with youth violence.

"As a government, we may be compelled to comply with federal legislation related to young offenders but we need a made-in-the-NWT solution to reach out to these troubled youth and, when necessary, protect them from their own behaviour and protect those around them," the MLA said.

Groenewegen noted facilities for young offenders are under-utilized and more programming and treatment for youth is needed.