THE DRINKING, THE DRUGS AND THE VIOLENCE MUST END

Violence and substance abuse cannot be tolerated on First Nations,
says the uncle of a man recently killed following an altercation on
the Standing Buffalo First Nation.

Clifton Isnana -- who is also a band councillor -- said his family is
still reeling from the death of his nephew, Joseph Lloyd Isnana Jr.,
39, who died in hospital on June 22. He and a 29-year-old man had
been assaulted on the reserve several days earlier.

RCMP have charged a 30-year-old man -- whose name is not being
released until he appears in Fort Qu'Appelle court today -- with
manslaughter in the death. The man is also charged with assault
causing bodily harm in relation to the 29-year-old victim.

"We're trying to cope with the sudden passing of our nephew and in a
sense we're kind of hurting (because) of the way he died -- it
shouldn't have happened," said Clifton Isnana. "It's going to take
some time to heal."

Isnana laid the blame at the feet of alcohol and drug problems on the
reserve, saying those issues played a role in his nephew's violent death.

But alcohol and drug abuse reaches far beyond the one incident, said
Isnana, who said the reserve has a "very huge problem" with drugs and alcohol.

"We've never seen so much activity in the drug business and alcohol
has always been a problem, but in recent years, drugs have really
played a major role in deaths, suicides, also corruption," he said.

Isnana said that marijuana, cocaine, crack and crystal meth have been
making their way on to the reserve and that some young people have
been getting actively involved in the drug trade -- including trafficking.

"It's got to the point where we have to do something very serious
about it ..," said Isnana. "It has to start in the family, the home,
parents, community. We see that today the parents have to learn to
control themselves because when we start getting involved in drugs
and alcohol, the children are going to be doing exactly the same thing."

He said band leadership must also play a large role by providing a
healthy example to follow.

"Our native people have got to learn to select role models, people
who have leadership ability to stand up against corruption (and)
violence that's produced through drugs and alcohol," he said. "And if
we don't . it's going to get worse."

Meanwhile, the town of Fort Qu'Appelle is dealing with a homicide
that occurred there on June 12, when Donald Rosebluff Jr. was killed.

Mayor Ron Osika stressed the two area homicides are not an indication
that there is a growing violence problem, although he agreed steps
must be taken to stop the flow of drugs into the area.

"Alcohol and drugs alter people's minds -- they do things that they
otherwise might not ...," he said. "If we could cut off the supply of
that stuff, then we may get a better handle on what's happening to
our young people and eliminate some of this violence. But it seems
it's a never-ending battle."

Osika said he and town council meet regularly with RCMP officers to
discuss ways to curb violence and other crime. He said they are
discussing the possibility of using electronic surveillance to both
deter and investigate crime. Osika also commended local citizens who
report suspicious people or activity to police.

"(The) community's got to work together," he said. "The police are
citizens that have power to do certain things on behalf of the rest
of the citizens, so we need to work with them and support them in
their efforts."