ABORIGINAL SEX-TRADE WORKERS MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN DRUGS BY EDMONTON POLICE

An organization representing Metis in Canada is responding to serious
allegations involving First Nations.

Metis National Council is deeply concerned about allegations that
Aboriginal sex-trade workers were recruited to take drugs so they
could be studied by the Edmonton Police in a training exercise.

Regardless of whether or not these women gave their consent to
participate in this "training," Metis National Council would never
condone the use any vulnerable group for this type of investigative
techniques. "By the Edmonton City Police, the Crown Prosecutor and the
Metis Social Agency, using these marginalized Aboriginal women for
experimental purposes and depriving them of their dignity is a
tantamount to breach of trust," Vice-President of the Metis National
Council David Chartrand says.

We are pleased that the Edmonton Police Service has launched an
internal investigation concerning this case. However, Mr. Chartrand
said "that there should be an in-depth inquiry into all three
organizations."

The MNC represents the Metis Nation in Canada at the national and
international level. The Metis Nation's homeland includes the 3
Prairie Provinces and extends into Ontario, British Columbia, the
Northwest Territories and the northern United States.