Judge Stacie F. Beckerman of the U.S. District Court in Oregon ordered Dawn Marie Walker, 48, returned to Canadian officials on Wednesday. The prosecution and defense agreed to Walker’s return to Canada after she waived formal extradition proceedings, which likely would have been lengthy. Scott Kerin, Assistant US Attorney for the District of Oregon, told the court that Walker’s return to Canada is in the best interests of both countries. Agents of the US Department of Homeland Security will take her to the Canadian border where she will be released to law enforcement. He also faces charges in Canada that include public nuisance and child abduction in violation of a custody order. U.S. federal public defender Megha Desai told the court that Walker is a victim of intimate partner abuse and has therefore been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Walker, who is a member of the Okanese First Nation, released a statement earlier this month saying she left Saskatoon because she feared for her and her son’s safety. Walker’s son’s father told Saskatoon radio station CKOM that he would never harm her or the boy. Beckerman said Tuesday she was saddened that Walker ended up in her Oregon courtroom without the support she needed at home. “I hope you can see your son soon,” she told Walker. Walker, who is a renowned Indigenous author and executive director of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, was arrested on August 5 by the US Department of Homeland Security. She was charged by U.S. officials with two felonies related to allegedly using fake IDs to cross the country with her son, who has since returned to Canada. Walker’s truck was found in a park south of Saskatoon last month, along with some of her belongings. Some people feared that she and her son had drowned in the South Saskatchewan River. For two weeks before her arrest, the RCMP and Saskatoon police were treating her as a missing person’s case. An affidavit filed in Oregon court by Homeland Security Special Agent Clinton Lindley says Walker and the boy’s biological father had been involved in a long custody battle and was supposed to return the child on July 25. Saskatoon police have not said whether the allegations of domestic violence played a role in their investigation. The police force said any previous complaints by Walker were investigated, but no charges were laid. The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
