DEALING DOPE

Tla'Amin (Sliammon) First Nation members have shown strength and
courage in dealing with the prevalence of drugs within their community.

About 80 Tla'Amin residents gathered to deliver ultimatums to
residents at 12 houses on the reserve who are known to be involved in
dealing drugs.

A speaker read a statement using a bullhorn and then notices were
duct-taped to the doors of the houses.

The notices, in part, told the named residents to cease all drug
activity immediately. Recipients were given the option of
volunteering within 24 hours to be given a plan by Tla'Amin Community
Health Services to become healthy and drug-free. The alternative
involves eviction, denial of access to social services and banishment
of a specific term of years from the Tla'Amin reserve lands.

Band members have made it clear their first nation is serious about
stopping drug trafficking. The march was given legitimacy in January
2008 when 87 per cent of Tla'Amin members who voted cast ballots in
favour of a referendum to remove drug dealers from reserve lands.
Because the first nation owns most of the homes on its lands and the
band holds housing contracts with all of the tenants, dealing with
contravention is much more absolute than with non-native
landlord-tenant disputes. A 20-year-old woman died recently as result
of a knife wound sustained in a fight in one of the houses identified
as having drug activities associated with it. Along with community
grief, residents were incensed by the senseless loss of life. The
scene of the homicide was the first house to be served notice during the march.

The event could have been confrontational. Only two residents from
among the 12 houses chose to engage the marchers.

The response from the crowd was subdued and peaceable.

The presence of Powell River RCMP members added to the sense of order.

Drug problems span beyond Tla'Amin lands and there is much others
could learn from this exercise.

Even with the prospect of retribution, marchers were public in their actions.

If all communities were to mobilize this way, drug dealers would have
nowhere to hide.