Former Manitoba Inuit Association CEO arrested on sexual assault charges

The ousted former chief executive of the Manitoba Inuit Association has been arrested on multiple counts of sexual assault.

Manitoba RCMP arrested Nastania Mullin, 39, at a Winnipeg home Wednesday on a Canada-wide warrant issued in Nunavut, as part of multiple ongoing investigations by Mounties in the territory.

Mullin remains in custody in Winnipeg but Nunavut RCMP intend to fly him north to the territory, where he will appear in court.

Several women contacted Nunavut RCMP last year alleging they had been sexually assaulted by Mullin in Iqaluit between 2003 and 2023. Mounties began investigating the complaints in October.

Mullin was named head of the Manitoba Inuit Association in 2022, but was fired by the board in November over the allegations of sex abuse.

He filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit in Court of King’s Bench against the association in February, claiming his firing was without a legitimate basis. His court filing made no mention of the abuse allegations.

The association, in a statement of defence filed in March, argues it had just cause to terminate Mullin.

That included alleged “repeated violations” of the organization’s employee guidelines, including those dealing with a respectful workplace, lateral violence and conflicts of interest, as well as claims of improper conduct that could harm the association.

The court filing said “numerous” employees filed complaints about his conduct during his time with the association.

MIA planned an external, third-party investigation into the complaints in 2023, but Mullin unilaterally directed the third-party not to investigate, the association claims.

Later, in 2024, two additional employees complained to the association and to provincial workplace safety and health officials, claiming they had been terminated for raising concerns about Mullin..

“In the fall of 2025, a series of social media posts detailed several concerning allegations about the plaintiff’s behaviour including incidents of sexual assault,” reads the association’s court filing, noting those posts were shared widely in the Inuit community and garnered national media attention.

After the posts appeared, three people made allegations of sexual assault in media reports and said they had filed criminal complaints.

The association’s board of directors placed Mullin on leave in October and reviewed his conduct. Other Inuit organizations began raising concerns and distancing themselves from the association, while its funders also raised concerns.

A funding partner withdrew its money as a result of the concerns, and community members and organizations demanded he be removed, the defence filing says.

Further, the court papers claim, Mullin was contacting board members trying to influence them and contacting financial organizations and stakeholders while on leave.

“After careful consideration… the defendants determined that the damage done to the MIA’s ongoing viability, public reputation, relationships with staff and the community at large was too great to continue to employ the plaintiff,” reads the filing.

“The actions of the plaintiff and his reaction to the public allegations fundamentally undermined the MIA’s trust in the plaintiff’s judgment necessary for him to maintain his position of trust, confidence and leadership within the organization.”

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca