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Okanagan Nation chiefs demand justice for Roxanne Louie

Lindsay Anderson, a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, was among several dozen people who rallied outside the Penticton Court House on Wednesday Jan. 28.
Lindsay Anderson, a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, was among several dozen people who rallied outside the Penticton Court House on Wednesday Jan. 28. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Penticton Herald-John Moorhouse

Okanagan Nation chiefs are urging all other First Nation leaders and other groups, organizations and allies to band together in calling on the federal government to launch an inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

READ MORE: Penticton pair accused in murder of woman granted bail

The plea comes after the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) Chiefs Executive Council (CEC) was informed that the two accused in Roxanne Louie’s murder were both granted bail last Tuesday.

“[This is] in spite of the brutality of the murder and the covering up of their culpability,” says Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, ONA Chair.
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Grace Elinor Robotti, 65, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Louie.

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The 26-year-old Vancouver woman went missing while visiting family, including Robotti in the south Okanagan over Christmas.

Grace’s brother, Pier Louis Robotti, 61, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and performing an indignity on a human body.

Phillip says the CEC is demanding justice for Louie and her three-year-old son.

“This country must honour its obligations to provide justice,” says Phillip. “It is critical that the system ensures that Roxanne is afforded justice and does not become one of the legions of Indigenous women and families that have been denied that.”

Louie’s body was found in a wooded area near Naramata on January 12.

~ With files from Blaine Gaffney

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