ELSIPOGTOG TAKES A STAND AGAINST DRUG TRADE

Chief, Council, Elders, Police Ready To Fight Drugs

RICHIBUCTO - Chief Jesse Simon woke up yesterday morning compelled to
take a stand against the hostile spread of drugs in Elsipogtog First
Nation.

Before leaving his home en route to the Richibucto courthouse, the
Mi'kmaq chief adjusted a handcrafted necktie that he received as a
token of encouragement from one of his community members.

Embroidered in tiny beads between his name and an eagle were the words
honesty, humility, wisdom, courage, respect, truth, and love.

Planning to publicly plead with a judge to banish a non-native man
from his community on the grounds that he has been dealing drugs to
its young people, Simon placed the seven laws of native tradition
close to his heart.

Buoyed by the presence of more than 40 Elsipogtog residents who showed
up in support, including many elders and his band council, Simon
arrived at the courthouse with a message he was prepared to deliver at
the earliest opportunity.

"I wanted to tell him that we want to take our community back because
it has been overrun by teenage zombies that are in a drug-induced
state," said Simon, a former amateur wrestler and guidance counsellor.

"And I also wanted to tell the judge that my children can't go out to
play because of the unsafe environment, they find needles in the grass
and in the sand."

Simon was, however, not afforded the chance to say his piece and
address the court at that particular stage of the legal process.

While Simon did not address the court, the turnout was a bold
statement from a community that has grown tired of watching its own
suffer the decaying effects of narcotics.

He said his people are fed up and ready to stand up for
themselves."There are elders in my community who are afraid to be in
their own homes because there is a rise of break-ins from drug
addicted members who are looking for a quick fix."

As part of a broad and daring new strategy to halt drug abuse in
Elsipogtog First Nation, a partnership has been established between
police, band council, elders, and community members to send a message
of zero tolerance toward drug trafficking and abuse.

"By filling the court room up with community members, we know who they
are and they know who we are," said Simon.

Neil Bourgeois and Tammy Augustine appeared in Richibucto provincial
court yesterday on identical charges of possession of marijuana for
the purpose of trafficking.

The pair spent the previous night in custody after Elsipogtog RCMP
raided a residence Wednesday.

Police allege they found a small amount of marijuana and drug
paraphernalia, and arrested Bourgeois and Augustine as well as a youth
who was released from custody later that day. The allegations have not
been proven in court.

They were released until their next appearance in court on March 24,
when they will enter a plea. According to the conditions of their
release, they must abstain from drugs, keep the peace, and notify
Elsipogtog RCMP of any changes of address.

The Crown prosecutor had asked that a meeting with the Elsipogtog band
council be included as a condition of their release, but Justice
Joseph Michaud refused.

"How can you impose that condition on a person when the person hasn't
been proven guilty?" asked Michaud.

He said such a condition would suggest the guilt of the
accused.

The commander of the Elsipogtog RCMP detachment, Sgt. Craig York, said
Wednesday's drug raid was the fourteenth conducted since last April.
And he said more will surely follow.

York said his detachment's alertness, and the community's vigilance,
is sending a message.

"It was overwhelming to see how the community was very interested in
attending and taking the time to show up, and to show the court that
we are very upset with the trafficking and we want to make sure
something is done this time," said York.

"I was very honoured to see the number of elders there."

York said oxycontin abuse is the biggest problem afflicting
Elspipogtog, where 90 per cent of crime is connected to drugs.

He said the message to drug dealers and drug addicts is
clear.

"We are asking them to seek help for themselves because they are
killing the youth, separating families, and it is escalating the level
of violence," said York.

In addition to the criminal justice system, York said the band council
has power over members' fundamental privileges such as housing, and he
said it can choose to withdraw certain privileges from members if they
are found to be disrupting the community.

Police have identified more than 100 Elsipogtog residents who are
taking methadone to recover from their addictions.

The work of a wellness committee, which brings together police, band
council, and service providers, and community members, is being
credited with providing new hope.

"People are really sick of it. Now we are hearing the voices because
they know we are behind it," said Simon. "I was really enthused to say
something today because I thought this was the day, and when it didn't
happen I was really disappointed," he said. "But the police told me
this is the process, it's a first step, just be patient."

Formerly known as Big Cove, Elsipogtog is the largest Mi'kmaq reserve
in New Brunswick, and the second largest in Atlantic Canada, with a
population of 2,800.

It is the located 10 kilometres west of Rexton.