NUNAVUT
After the trial and sentencing of former Oblate priest Eric Dejaeger was finally completed, Nunavut RCMP took the opportunity to speak out against child sexual assault.
"The goal," said Chief Supt. Mike Jeffrey, "is to take a serious case like this, something that is very unfortunate, and use it to prevent and educate."
Tragically, child sexual assault figures prominently in the territory, a fact Justice Robert Kilpatrick noted in sentencing Dejaeger for numerous sexual crimes against children.
Kilpatrick reproduced graphs and noted they "starkly demonstrate the alarming incidence of sexual violence generally and sexual violence against children in Nunavut ..."
Kilpatrick noted the harsh statistics influenced his sentencing decision.
"The high incidence of sexual offences generally and crimes against children in this jurisdiction requires a firm response by a sentencing court. The need to emphasize general deterrence through an exemplary sentence is enhanced under these circumstances," he stated.
Jeffrey says child sexual abuse should never happen, but it is something that happens.
"Not just in Nunavut, it happens all around the world. These people, these predators, they're looking for people who are vulnerable, that they can influence because of their position or their authority over them."
He adds, "We want to try to use this to talk to people and say, the police really need the help of the community to try to identify situation where this can happen and where they have doubts or suspicions to not hesitate to talk about it."
Jeffrey says communication is all-important.
"To be able to talk to your father or mother, an elder or a teacher, a friend, the police ... somebody. That's the start for us to be able to stop this type of behaviour."
Speaking up takes a lot of courage.
"It's probably one of the hardest things to do because there's a lot of guilt and shame that's attached. The people who are doing this type of thing to others make them feel bad about it, tell them not to tell other people."
Sgt. Yvonne Niego, community policing co-ordinator, said, "in smaller communities the usual places of contact would be your health centre, your social worker, your school counsellor or teacher and the police."
"But there are other supports in the community. Often community leaders, elders and others are looked up to as resource people," she said.
A child abuse investigations program has been running for a few years across the territory.
"We conduct three per year, in the three different regions. Included in that is the guidance counsellors, public health, nurses, social workers, police officers, anybody involved in projects, like a sexual abuse project, mental health workers, anybody that is in a profession or service where there might be a child coming forward with a disclosure."
About 100 people have been trained so far. The course, which is offered in conjunction with the GN's Department of Family Services, is one week long and child-focused.
"It covers the process, start to finish," said Niego.
The objective is to minimize the child's trauma. Niego said since the program has been in place, there has been an increase in reporting.
"The resources are there. The resource people are aware and more attuned to the signs and symptoms."
A main sign to watch for in children is a change in behaviour.
"From my personal interviews with children and parents, or caregivers or support people, the change in behaviour can be fear of a certain place or of a certain person, or anger starting to exhibit, or trouble medically," said Niego.
Jeffrey adds that sometimes children become more withdrawn and not as communicative.
"The key is for parents to engage their children, to talk with them. Find out how things are going," he said.
In the Dejaeger decision, Kilpatrick stressed the many difficulties in hearing a case involving historical crimes perpetrated on children.
"Delayed reporting and the passage of time can interfere with the collection of credible evidence. Forensic science cannot assist where the physical evidence related to a crime or a crime scene has disappeared or ceased to exist. Witnesses may die or disappear. Witnesses who are found may choose not to cooperate," Kilpatrick stated.
Jeffrey emphasizes that there is no statute of limitation on child sexual assault crimes. It's never too late to report. However, the sooner a crime is reported the better in order to collect evidence, such as DNA.
Niego adds, "The better the chances are for us to corroborate things, the weather, the lighting. People's memories fade."
Jeffrey also stresses that offenders rarely change, saying it's important to stop them as soon as possible.
"They rarely change their behaviours, until they're caught. So if somebody is brave enough to come forward, they might be helping somebody else."
Both Niego and Jeffrey repeat it's important people come forward.
"Silence is the problem. That's why (the Dejaeger crimes) lasted so long and affected so many people," said Jeffrey.
"There's more of an awareness that there's truth in these stories. And (child sexual abuse) is wrong," said Niego.
