CRYSTAL METH ON RESERVES

Chief Allan Adam made an emotional plea to Saskatchewan's First Nations
chiefs to take immediate action to stem the flow of crystal
methamphetamines in their communities.

"Crystal Meth. We seem to be whispering it in here. But it is a very lethal
matter that we have to deal with right now. I think that the only time as
leaders that we will wake up is when it affects us personally," the Fond du
Lac Denesuline First Nations Chief said.

"And today I can tell you that I am affected by it personally and I can
tell you it is not a good journey to be going through as a leader. And I
think that as leaders here, as leaders of the FSIN, provincial and federal
governments, we have to wake up to how real this problem is," Adam told the
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations' winter Legislative Assembly
Thursday.

Adam made a painful admission that he learned three weeks ago that his
teenage daughter, who he said came from a good home, was hooked on the drug.

First Nations leaders have to be prepared to point fingers and name those
in their community, who are making and selling crystal meth, and banish
them from their reserves, Adam said, and they have to be willing to tell
parents' if their children are using this "crap."

"Right now there are crack houses on most of our reserves. How many of you
are prepared to look deep enough to find out who is cooking this crap up?
We have to tackle this problem head on and we have to do it now."

Adam warned that if nothing is done immediately to deal with this drug,
which is more addictive and more destructive than alcohol, it will destroy
future First Nations leaders.

"No matter who or where we come from we have to come together as one to
tackle this matter head on ...We do not need to see any more Jimmy Deans,"
he said, referring to a young 18-year-old First Nations boy whose death was
linked to crystal meth.

While earlier in the week the assembly passed a resolution to seek
government funds to develop prevention and treatment strategies, FSIN
Vice-Chief Lawrence Joseph said Thursday he would meet with the RCMP and
the police chiefs of Saskatchewan to discuss more immediate action.