Canadian School Faces Civil Rights Complaint After Ignoring Assault on Indigenous Student
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 March 2026
Manitoba / Canada / United States
Protect Our Children, Honor Our Culture: Civil Rights Complaint Filed with Canadian Human Rights Commission After Assault on Cree Youth
The U.S.-based Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, is issuing this updated statement to Indigenous and Canadian media following the assault of 11-year-old Theo Osborne at Stonybrook Middle School.
After repeated requests for information and engagement were ignored by the school and Hanover School Division, the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation is now filing a civil rights complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) to ensure accountability, protection, and systemic change.
Theo, a young member of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, suffered a concussion, lost a tooth, and had his hair pulled out following racially targeted bullying that escalated into physical assault. Prior reports to school officials were dismissed or minimized, and attempts by the Foundation to engage the school in dialogue have been met with silence.
This lack of response highlights systemic failures affecting Indigenous youth in the district, and underscores the urgent need for institutional accountability and reform.
Civil Rights Complaint
The Foundation is filing the complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission to:
* Ensure full transparency regarding how the assault and prior reports were handled
* Hold the school and division accountable for systemic negligence
* Protect Indigenous students’ rights to safety, dignity, and cultural respect
* Prompt enforcement of anti-bullying, anti-racism, and human rights protections
Call to Indigenous and Canadian Leadership
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation calls upon Chief David Monias and Pimicikamak leadership, provincial authorities, and education oversight bodies to:
* Support the filing and resolution of the CHRC complaint
* Actively oversee Indigenous student safety and cultural protections
* Collaborate to prevent future harm to Indigenous youth
Statement from Founder Daniel Chapin
“The continued silence from the school division is unacceptable. When children are harmed and the institutions meant to protect them fail to act, formal legal action is necessary. Filing this complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission is about more than one child—it is about sending a clear message that Indigenous children deserve safety, respect, and justice.
Theo’s resilience and return to his culture and dance are inspiring—but no child should have to be strong in the face of institutional neglect. We stand with Pimicikamak leadership and families to ensure systemic change and accountability.”
Shared Path Forward
* Listen to Indigenous families and youth
* Center cultural understanding in education systems
* Act decisively when harm is reported
* Build trust through transparency and accountability
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation is a United States-based national nonprofit dedicated to child safety, crisis response, and systemic reform. The organization works across borders in support of vulnerable youth and in partnership with Indigenous communities seeking accountability and systemic change.
Media Contact
Jennifer West
Youth Peace & Justice Foundation
254-499-8027
Charity ID: 88-3268749
