The leader of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is leaving his role temporarily to “heal” just days after being accused of inappropriate communication with a younger woman.

Grand Chief Arlen Dumas strongly denied the accusations that he used a fake Facebook account to chat with the woman but admitted to having other communications with her.

Grand Chief Dumas said he will be taking a short leave of absence to receive counselling and professional sensitivity training to ensure further communications are more formal.

Dumas is just short of his second year the helm of the AMC, which advocates for 62 First Nations in Manitoba. He is being accused of sending messages to a woman from a Facebook account with the name of Charles Forbes. The woman has been described as a 22-year-old woman, which would make her two decades younger than Dumas.

The woman is not being named because the allegations haven’t been verified.

Dumas says the allegations are part of a manufactured political smear.

He admitted he was in contact with the woman, saying he was following up on advice that she had asked for. He also admitted that his communications haven’t always been professional, but denied that he was pursuing intimate relations with the woman.

Dumas has been Chief of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation for a decade and has prided himself on being available to his community at all times.

The Grand Chief added that the leave of absence will help him deal with his traumas, but did not specify. His son, who had cystic fibrosis, died this year.

The Chief of Black River First Nation, Sheldon Kent, will take over Dumas’ responsibilities.