WHITEFISH BAY WANTS TO BE RID OF BOOTLEGGERS AND TRAFFICKERS

Whitefish Bay Residents Decided Wednesday to Take Concrete Steps
Against Alcohol Bootleggers and Drug Traffickers.

Whitefish Bay residents decided Wednesday to take concrete steps
against alcohol bootleggers and drug traffickers.

Community leaders have drafted a letter, which will be circulated to
those suspected of selling contraband within the First Nation, and it
will be asking them to stop their activities. Otherwise, band council
will pass a resolution expelling them from the reserve.

Band members are also considering implementing drug testing for band
employees.

The steps follow a high number of suicide attempts within the last
month.

The lengthy discussion was scheduled to begin around 10 a.m., but was
delayed for more than an hour as community leaders dealt with news of
a suicide attempt earlier that morning.

Chief Warren White said the young woman was reported to be in critical
condition in Winnipeg, and it was among 10 attempts within the last
month. Sadly, there was a successful attempt only two weeks ago.

"We have to find a way to give hope," he said, during a break in the
day-long meeting.

Held at the First Nation's roundhouse, the audience of parents and
elders took time to ease into an emotionally-charged subject as many
relatives were still shaken by the morning news.

Fortunately, those in charge managed to create some smiles and
laughter, before holding a community feast in honour of the summer
solstice.

As the meal was being prepared, band members also poured out their
hearts by offering gifts in large numbers before returning to a more
sobering topic.

As the sun's rays shone on a sign proclaiming the home of the jingle
dress, band leaders started handing out sheets explaining how council
wanted to deal with the crisis among their youth.

Through response teams, who would be on-call throughout weekends, as
well as crisis teams for the evenings, the community looked at ways to
effectively handle an emergency.

They also looked at ways to restore a sense of meaning and purpose to
youth, who haven't experienced residential schools or don't have
memories from the days when families lived off the land by hunting,
fishing, trapping or harvesting.

However the most difficult decision related to a motion to threaten
expulsion from the community for bootleggers or drug traffickers.
First Nation employees may also be subject to drug testing as the
community searches for ways to restore order.

Meanwhile, White noted new money from the Casino Rama deal reached
earlier in the year with the province will provide added funding for
projects on the reserve. These included a summer camp, arena
renovations, a health centre and daycare.

The summer camp, complete with curriculum focused on traditional
culture, is set to begin in late July, while construction of the
health centre is set for next spring.

Recently, youth in the community helped raise $20,000 to help 19 youth
travel by bus to the North American Indigenous Games in Denver.

The chief had to allow a grin when he said, "We were obliged to match
them."

Results of the community's vote were expected late Wednesday.

Whitefish Bay has an on-reserve population of about 625, with more
than 400 more living off-reserve.

When White was elected chief of Whitefish Bay last fall, the community
health station has recorded 68 attempted suicides since 2003.

Those attempting to take their own lives were as young as seven years
old.