RESIDENTS MARCH AGAINST DRUGS

WAYCOBAH- A group of concerned residents took to the streets of their
Inverness County community last week to show their support for local
youth.

The Waycobah (We'koqma'q) First Nation came out in impressive numbers last
Friday to take part in the Parents Against Drugs march.

Parents Against Drugs is a nationwide non-profit group designed to offer
positive and healthy solutions for youth. An offshoot of the national
program has begun with local First Nations communities who have created
their own logo and worked to make the event their own.

Cst. Duma Bernard began the First Nations-specific wing of program in
Eskasoni and says seeing communities that are joining the fight against
drugs is an uplifting experience.

"There are a whole bunch of people supporting them to stay away from drugs
and once they see all the support they aren't shy to voice their own
concerns," Bernard said, noting Eskasoni Crisis Centre worker Priscilla
Gould and Inkin Young of the provincial Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Counselling Association, along with the community at large, are due thanks
for their hard work.

Pamela Toney, one of the organizers of the Waycobah event said the march
is important for the community.

"It's a healthy opportunity which will allow us time for healing. This
will allow us to do something proactive to show our support for a healthy
and drug free lifestyle," Toney said as the 200-plus participants began
arriving at the site of the community's former school for a march along
Highway 105 and leading to the community's new school.

Waycobah chief Morley Googoo said he and the community's band council were
pleased to be part of the important community-driven moment.

"The parents themselves actually got together and wanted to do this and
asked our support and we just wanted to make sure the event of course is
going to be more proactive and unite people and bring awareness to the
issue of drugs and alcohol, rather than the people themselves. Let's be
hard on the issue and soft on the people because we're all community
members," Googoo said moments before embarking on the march.

For more information on the organization, visit: www.parentsagainstdrugs.ca