The chief of a fly-in Manitoba First Nation northeast of Winnipeg is facing eight charges including luring a person under 18 and sexual assault.

The RCMP says Little Grand Rapids Chief Raymond Keeper, 65, was arrested yesterday.

The Mounties say they began an investigation last month after receiving reports of inappropriate text messages between a 16-year-old girl and an older man.

Officers with the Little Grand Rapids RCMP Detachment as well as the RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Major Crime Services conducted the investigation.

Keeper has been released pending a court appearance on November 21, 2021.

The RCMP believes there may be more victims. If you are a survivor or have information on this investigation, the RCMP is asking you to call Little Grand Rapids RCMP at 204-397-2249.

The RCMP says that Klinic Community Health is also able to receive third-party reports from survivors of sexual assault 16 years and older anywhere in Manitoba. Third-party reporting is a process where a survivor is able to pass on information about the sexual assault they experienced to the police without having to speak directly to the police or make a formal report. In this process, the survivor completes a form with the support of a Sexual Assault Crisis Program worker, and this information is sent to police without the survivor’s identifying information.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

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With files from The Canadian Press