DRUG DEALERS NOT WELCOME

Native Community Fights Back

Members of Leq'a:mel First Nation and their friends were out Friday
night, warning drug dealers their activities aren't welcome in the
Deroche community.

The band members, who live about half an hour east of Mission, donned
red T-shirts and brandished signs saying 'Say no to crack,' and 'Our
children, their future.'

Leq'a:mel chief Alice Thomson said last week her First Nation
community was fed up with "shady characters" and traffickers coming to
their rural reserve, offering drugs.

"At least in the last year and a half, it's really escalated. It's
moving out here."

Other First Nations communities are also struggling with drugs on
reserves.

The rally drew Fraser Valley Sto:lo leaders including Grand Chief Clarence
Pennier of the Sto:lo Tribal Council and Grand Chief Doug Kelly from the
Soowahlie band.

"We've had really good feed back. We had a good turnout from youth,
too, from Sumas [First Nation]," she said.

Thompson and Leq'a:mel band members plan another rally from 6 p.m. to
8 p.m. on July 25 at the new band office, 43201 Lougheed Highway.