TIME TO ATTACK DRUG PROBLEM

FSIN Vice-Chief: Reserve Adopts Zero-Tolerance Policy

Chief Elaine Chicoose is battling drug abuse in her band, a fight she
spoke about at Tuesday's Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations'
(FSIN) anti-drug conference.

Band members, police, RCMP and addictions counsellors were among
those attending the conference, which focused on combating the sale,
use, possession and manufacture of drugs in First Nations communities.

"We know the problems that plague our communities," Chicoose said.
"We know as people -- we're the front-line workers out there."

Social problems on reserves have driven people to death, Chicoose
said. A family member committed suicide two years ago, leaving his
three sons behind for her to raise.

Chicoose said First Nations bands must think of solutions for these
young people before they fall into the trap of drug abuse.

When Chicoose took on the leadership of the Pasqua First Nation five
years ago, she took her directions from band elders, who asked her to
create a safer community.

"If you hear elders telling you that they are scared to leave their
own homes, you have to do something," she said.

The Pasqua First Nation adopted a zero-tolerance policy to drug
abuse. People who were caught using or dealing drugs could be
reported to the local RCMP, have their employment or social
assistance terminated or have their names posted publicly. The Pasqua
First Nation also put an eviction clause into its housing policy,
saying anyone caught dealing or selling drugs would be evicted. The
band, with the help of the RCMP, have since evicted one person under
this clause.

"As leaders of our community, we had to take a stand, and we took
that stand," she said, adding tough measures are needed to combat
problems such as drug abuse.

FSIN vice-chief Lawrence Joseph says First Nations groups also have
to work with police, RCMP, health agencies, educators and treatment
counsellors to combat drug abuse.

Conferences allow First Nations people to meet these members of the
community and develop solutions to social problems, he says.

"Quite frankly, I think we have done enough finger-pointing with,
'It's your fault, Mr. police officer, it's your fault,' " said
Joseph. First Nations bands do bear some responsibility for making
their own communities safer, he says.

Joseph says there has been enough talk about First Nations' problems
with drug and alcohol abuse. Now, he says, it is time to attack the
problem and "fight this devastating monster, the devil that's been
coming into our community."