FSIN expresses support for Dawn Walker, calls for her release from custody

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is calling for a Saskatoon judge to release a 48-year-old woman accused of faking her death and that of a seven-year-old boy and fleeing to the U.S.

Dawn Dumont Walker and the boy were reported missing July 24. They were found two weeks later on Aug. 5 in Oregon City, Oregon.

Walker is accused of faking their deaths and abducting the boy before fleeing across the border using false documents. She is facing charges in the U.S. relating to the use of false identification to cross the border.

In Canada, she’s facing charges of abduction and public mischief. Earlier this week, an Oregon judge ordered her to be sent back to Canada after she waived a formal extradition process.

During a news conference Friday, FSIN Vice Chief Heather Bear said her organization stands behind Walker. Bear accused police of not taking Walker’s reports alleging domestic violence seriously.

Prior to her arrest, Walker served as FSIN’s executive operating officer.

Dawn Walker is facing charges in Canada and the United States. (Saskatoon Police Service/Submitted)

“Dawn fled to the United States out of a (woman’s) love …,” said Bear. “Her multiple reported incidents of abuse were filed with both the City of Saskatoon Police Services and the RCMP. Both agencies failed to see the patterns and escalation of abuse.”

Walker’s reports never resulted in criminal charges, and Bear claimed that fact highlighted a failure of the justice system to recognize intimate partner abuse in all of its forms. She called for an investigation into the Saskatoon police and RCMP to examine how they handled Walker’s reports and why no charges were filed.

When questioned, Bear would not reveal to whom the abuse allegations referred, adding it was Walker’s “story to tell.” The vice chief admitted she was aware of Walker’s prior claims of domestic violence, and said she’d “penned a letter to the Saskatoon Police Service, to Chief Troy Cooper.”

During a previous exclusive interview with 650 CKOM, Andrew Jansen, Walker’s ex-husband, said he thinks those allegations are a distraction.

“I would never hurt Dawn … There’s no truth to any of that, and that’s all I can say,” Jansen said.

650 CKOM asked Bear for her opinion on Jansen’s statements.

“Why would we believe him over Dawn …? That’s just the same attitude the justice system has. Like the police had. Like the judge has. OK? That’s my answer there. Why do you believe him and not Dawn? That’s the big question. Because she’s Indian. Because she’s Indigenous. Because she’s a woman. That’s why, and it’s simply wrong and I think that’s a foolish question,” Bear said.

Bear called for Walker to be released from custody when she appears in front of a Saskatoon judge.

“Dawn is not going anywhere. She will be home with her family and close to (the boy),” Bear said.

Kathy Walker, Dawn’s sister, said she’s grateful for support she’s received from the FSIN and community members. She said she hadn’t spoken to her sister for some time, and hopes to see the boy soon.

“It’s been too long since I’ve been able to speak with her, hear her voice. I’m really hopeful now that she’s going to be back in Saskatoon that I will be able to see her and speak with her,” she said.

“Now that Dawn is back, we’ll definitely be reaching out to that side of the family and hopefully be able to see him really soon.”

Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner Mary Culbertson, a friend of Walker’s who also attended the news conference, also expressed her support for the Saskatoon woman and condemned men who criticized Walker online.

“This is all women sitting here,” she said. “People will send me screenshots of things people post, and for the men out there, you have no room to talk. Not a single one of you should be condemning Dawn or any woman who says they didn’t get help, because the systems were built for you, and not us.”

Walker is scheduled to make her first appearance in Provincial Court on Monday.

High-profile Toronto-based lawyer Marie Henein has confirmed she will be representing Walker. The FSIN said it will not be paying for Walker’s legal costs, but did note that an online fundraiser has been launched for that purpose.