Wilbur Dedam trial on 6 sex charges underway

A woman who once babysat for Wilbur Dedamtestified Tuesday she was routinely sexually abused by the former chief of Esgenopetitj First Nation.

Dedamis on trial in the Court of Queen's Bench in Miramichionsix sex-related charges that allegedly happened between 1977 and 1985.

The first witness, now a middle-aged woman, testified Dedam sat beside her on an ottoman and touched her leg and said, "I like you. You're pretty."

• Former First Nation chief Wilbur Dedam charged with 6 sex crimes

The woman said she told Dedam that was adultery and recalled Dedam telling her not to tell anyone.

The woman held an eagle feather throughout her testimony and said Dedam threatened to say the woman came to him. The woman said her father was a violent man and she was scared he would beat her.

A few months later, in 1978, the woman testified, "He had sexual intercourse with me."

The woman, whoseidentity is protected by a court-ordered publication ban, told of routine instances of abuse and sexual intercourse. She needed many breaks to compose herself and stroked the eagle featherin her hand.

Much of the abuse happened when Dedam's wife was away from the home and with the Dedam's children sleeping in the home, the woman testified.

The woman's parents never knew of the alleged abuse and urged her to continue babysitting for the money, so the situation continued for years, the woman said.

The woman testified Dedam sexually assaulted her the evening of her deceased father's wake.

A jury of six men and six women is hearing the case. A Mi'kmaq interpreter was sworn in on Tuesday.

The charges against Dedam include sexual assault and having sex with a female under 15 years of age.

Dedam was 56 years old when the charges were laid in May 2014.

Esgenopetitj First Nation is in northeastern New Brunswick and was formerly known as Burnt Church. Dedamwas chief when tensions arose in 2000 over Aboriginal fishing rights.

Justice Tracey Deware is presiding over the case. T.J. Burke and Gilles Lemieux are representing Dedam, while the Crown prosecutors and Melanie MacAulay and Charlotte Bourque.

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