Another former common-law partner of Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox is speaking out about domestic violence she says she suffered during their relationship.
Melanie Moosepayo lived with Fox in Onion Lake from the summer of 2015, until the alleged assault took place.
The incident between the couple led to her filing a complaint at the Onion Lake Cree Nation RCMP detachment on July 7, 2016. She then returned home to Manitoba, along with her children, and chose not to go ahead with the complaint.
Moosepayo did not want to go into detail about the details of the assault when interviewed by 106.1 The Goat.
She changed her mind in October, when she says she went to her local detachment and gave a statement to the police. Moosepayo said she had decided to go through with the process after Fox and his new partner came to her community in Manitoba, attempting to reclaim her car.
Fox was previously charged with an array of offences related to a case of domestic assault of another former common-law partner, Vicki Monague. Fox recently pleaded guilty to one charge of assault from that case, and was sentenced to 12 months of probation on October 20.
Moosepayo was living with Fox when the news broke of the investigation into the chief in relation to Monague’s complaints.
“He told me at the time that he was sorry, that he would never do it again, that he would be respectful to women,” said Moosepayo.
“I believed him, until this happened to me.”
Moosepayo has said that the Onion Lake RCMP now has the statement she gave in Manitoba, and that the investigation into the matter is ongoing. .
“At first I was kind of hesitant, because I didn’t know where things were going and I didn’t know what to do, but now that things are kind of in the open, I have nothing to hide,” said Moosepayo.
“I have to keep reminding myself that I did nothing wrong, and that I am the victim in this. I have to keep reminding myself of this.”
A spokesperson for the Saskatchewan RCMP would not confirm nor deny whether an investigation is taking place. When asked about any further allegations when leaving court in Lloydminster on October 20th, Fox and his lawyer did not comment.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
