STICKING IT TO DRUG DEALERS

The sign at the top of the map reads: "Will you stand by and watch
your community die from drugs and alcohol? Mark the drug dealers you
know next door."

Below, 25 pins are stuck into a map of Nak'azdli. They show where
passersby think drug dealers are working on the reserve.

The large map was one of many displays at a health fair in Kwah Hall
on May 10, but it drew more than its share of attention.

Three red pins show the crystal meth dealers. Twelve white pins mark
the crack/cocaine suppliers. Seven green pins single out marijuana
dealers. People who supply alcohol are marked by three yellow pins.
The suspected dealers are scattered across Nak'azdli and several
locations have multiple pins stuck into them, showing they offer
several types of drugs.

The pins were put there by community members who want to bring the
drug problem on Nak'azdli out into the open, says Nak'azdli wellness
worker Dawn Agno, who made the display.

Agno was surprised with the reception the map received.

She admits she doesn't know how accurate the information is but Agno
says the exercise is an important step for people to show their
concerns and suspicions in the community.

"This is for community members who are sick of dealers. They're tired
of children getting access to drugs and alcohol."

Aileen Prince, the health director at the Nak'azdli Health Centre,
was happy to see the map up. It shows the community how prevalent the
problem is, she says, not that she needed to see the map to know
drugs are a problem on the reserve.

In a 1999 survey done by the health centre, around nine per cent of
the community said they were drug users, Prince said. A 2005 survey
showed that number jumped to 29 per cent. That means 336 people
reported they use drugs on the reserve.

"These (drugs) are killing these kids," Prince said. "It's going to
get worse and worse."

Agno says the problem isn't only on Nak'azdli. She wanted to have a
similar map of Fort St. James up but she couldn't get one in time.

A young man passing the map of the reserve echoed her thoughts. "The
big dealers are in the town," he said.