Charges stayed against Winnipeg Indigenous group founder after peace bond

A founder of a grassroots Indigenous organization in Winnipeg is no longer facing charges of assault and two counts of uttering threats involving an adult woman after agreeing to a yearlong peace bond earlier this year. The charges against Tim Barron Jr. were stayed by the Crown on April 15 in a Winnipeg courtroom. APTN News first learned of the peace bond last month, after Barron wrote APTN saying the charges had been “dropped” and asked that a Nov. 6, 2024 story reporting on the charges be taken down. “This has all been dealt with in court,” wrote Barron in an email on Sept. 5. “All charges have been dropped. I am requesting that it be solved or removed immediately from the Internet or investigated,” he added. APTN confirmed with the court the charges weren’t dropped, which is officially known as withdrawn, and responded to Barron that it would do a new story; not remove the original reporting. Barron was also given an opportunity for another interview, but he didn’t respond. The charges involved two incidents in the summer of 2024 relating to the same adult woman. At the time, APTN Investigates had been working on a story involving Barron and his former group, Four Sacred Hearts – which aimed to help inner-city youth, especially those involved in gangs. APTN followed Barron and his group as it handed out food in Winnipeg’s North End, held ceremonies and shared traditional teachings. “Root Causes: Sacred Heart” was to air on Oct. 26, 2024, but the story was postponed, and ultimately canceled, after concerned community members alerted APTN to the charges just days before the story was to air. Barron hadn’t told APTN about the charges. The documentary was supposed to tell Barron’s story of how he was introduced into the gang life, found sobriety and tried to help others learn from his mistakes. It was a follow up to the original “Root Causes” documentary in 2022. Four Sacred Hearts was formed soon after that documentary’s release that same year. Following the charges, the group’s Facebook page was removed and the other members continued on with their advocacy. It appeared Barron re-ignited the group with different members a day before his charges were stayed. Photos dated April 14 showed Barron sitting in what appears to be a classroom of youth. The following day this message was posted to the group by an administrator. “Four Sacred Hearts Inc. does not tolerate any gossip, lateral violence, or any keyboard unkindness. No drama welcomed. Keep that between you and Creator. We are here to help our youth, people, communities, who have been impacted and disconnect from our way of living. We share our gifts, uplift our communities with hope, inspire others and make valuable memories,” the post states. “Spiritual leaders have a relationship with Spirit and do their best to act in keeping with spiritual values as much as possible, keeping in mind that we are all imperfect human beings and that leaders, like anyone else, also make mistakes.” The group is now called Circle of Creation, but its Facebook page disappeared on Oct. 7 after APTN wrote Barron one last time before publishing this story. Continue Reading