Thunder Bay's aboriginal population fears racism and violence

Aboriginal people in the northern Ontario community of Thunder Bay continue to live in fear of racism and violence almost two months after a First Nations woman was abducted and sexually assaulted by two men claiming to be serial attackers.

Adding to a long history of unsolved sex crimes against aboriginal women in the city, the 36-year-old woman was strangled, beaten and raped in a wooded area of a park after being kidnapped off the streets.

"[They] told her that they had done this before, and native people don't deserve your treaty rights," said Theresa Trudeau, a cultural support worker, and friend of the woman.

Those within the aboriginal community say police are part of the problem, and accuse them of abuse and racial profiling.

Thunder Bay Police Chief J.P. Levesque rejects claims there is any type of profiling on the force.

He said his force deals with more than 50,000 incidents a year, and higher rates of alcohol and drug abuse than anywhere else in Ontario. 

Trudeau has lived in Thunder Bay for 30 years, but said she still doesn't trust the police.

"Not with my life will I trust a police officer in this city," she said.

The CBC's Reg Sherren reports on the divided community desperate to find solutions.