MARCHERS CONFRONT DEALERS

Squamish Event Aims To Drive Drug Sellers Out

DRUMMING and singing broke the quiet morning last Saturday as a group
of about 50 people from the Squamish First Nation marched through
their reserve in West Vancouver to confront known drug dealers.

"We want you to leave our reserve."

"We don't want drugs anymore."

"Crack is whack."

Led by Doris Paul, founder of Caring For Our Youth, the rally
consisted of committee members, Squamish Nation councillors,
community members and their kids. The West Vancouver police, Squamish
peacekeepers and the RCMP also accompanied them.

Unlike the first rally two years ago when Paul and other community
leaders warned drug dealers through a bullhorn they were being
watched, this time, marchers knocked on their doors and had real conversations.

"We want to let them know in a friendly way that we are here to
support them, but if they don't stop dealing drugs, there will be
consequences," said Byron Joseph, co-chairman of the Squamish Nation
chiefs and council.

Paul said it was the positive response to the first rally that
inspired them to do a second one.

"People really liked it," she said. "They (the drug dealers) got
scared and some of them closed down their stores."

"But then we got lazy and they picked it up again," she added.
"That's why we need to do it again."

This time, they did it with more courage and determination.

"We love you very much, but there will be zero tolerance for your
behaviour," Joseph firmly told a suspected drug dealer when he
finally opened the door.

Most of the targets who didn't take off before the event appeared
cooperative. One of them even broke down in tears.

"That's a good sign," said Paul. "He said he really needs help and I
told him to come see me on Monday."

Paul was also excited to see people, no longer fearful of
retaliation, open their windows to show support for the cause, waving
and clapping their hands.

"And it's very symbolic to have more youths participating this year," she said.

Carla George, a Squamish Nation councillor, took her three-year-old
daughter to the rally because she thought it was important to make
the changes through the next generation.

"Let's make the young ones aware that it's ok not to drink or use
drugs. Let's make some real changes," she said.

Brian Campo, who took part in the rally, noted dealing with the drug
problem is only the first step.

"We have a lot of other problems like alcohol, but it's a good start," he said.

Fred Harding of West Vancouver Police Department's First Nation
Aboriginal Police Liaison was impressed the Squamish people have
turned the first rally into such a powerful movement.

"We are moving away from stigmatizing people who are fighting against
addiction," he said.

"We are coming together to support them, to show that everyone's a
victim around here."

He added the group is planning to bring this model to other
aboriginal communities, such as the Sechelt First Nation, where the
drug problem is even worse.

"You look at how far we've come and you look at the road ahead, they
are both significant distances," he said.

Paul hopes to make the march an annual tradition in the community.

"We need to keep the pressure on," she said.