Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Indigenous healer Joseph Camille and the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

A Kelowna Indigenous non-profit is denying any wrongdoing after two women claim they were sexually assaulted by one of its employees.

One woman, an employee at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, said she consented to a healing treatment from Joseph Camille, also known as Buckles, in July 2021. Camille is also an employee of the society, according to a lawsuit filed Dec. 17 in the Supreme Court of B.C.

She claimed Camille forcefully kissed her and massaged her breasts. She said she reported the experience to members of the friendship society’s board.

Another employee said she reported an alleged sexual assault to the society’s executive director after receiving a massage from Camille. She experienced bruising on the inside of her legs, back, breasts and over her buttocks, according to a separate lawsuit filed Nov. 22, in the Supreme Court of B.C.

Both said in the suits that the non-profit was aware of Camille’s actions but did nothing to prevent or stop the alleged sexual abuse.

READ MORE: Multiple women suing Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, Indigenous healer

The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society has denied both claims, according to responses filed against the two lawsuits Jan. 10 and Jan. 19.

The society denied Camille was a contractor acting under the authority or within the scope of his employment if he engaged in sexual activity with the women as alleged in the lawsuits.

The society also denied any employees, staff or otherwise, knew the women were at risk of being sexually assaulted and said it took appropriate steps to ensure both women were safe from harm when participating in traditional healing methods.

Camille has not yet filed a response to the lawsuits. He did not respond to a request for comment by Thursday's news deadline, Feb. 3.

Kelowna RCMP media relations liaison Tammy Lobb said, via email, a sexual assault investigation has been ongoing since July, 2021 after two victims came forward.

Disclosure was sent to the B.C. Prosecution Service fore review Jan. 24, she said.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022