THREE FACE BANISHMENT FROM SASKATCHEWAN'S LARGEST FIRST NATION

Saskatchewan's largest First Nation has been banishing drug dealers
and others for decades, with three more facing exile next week.

"They were causing a lot of problems in the community," Lac la Ronge
Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said Friday.

"It's for the safety of the community."

The issue of banishment made headlines nationally after the council
of the Samson Cree Nation in Alberta passed a resolution approving
the practice, but Saskatchewan First Nations including Fishing Lake,
Cowessess, Mistawasis and others have been doing it for years.

Cook-Searson, who spent eight years as a councillor before being
elected chief six years ago, said an average of two or three people
have been banished by Lac la Ronge councils for decades. Sometimes,
the person is banned from only one of Lac la Ronge's six reserve
communities. At other times, the individual is banished from them all.

"It's been in place for a long time," she said.

One or more of Lac la Ronge's 10,000 members typically lay a
complaint with the council or the RCMP. Police handle the most
serious cases such as homicides or serious assaults. Other instances
such as chronic mischief, bootlegging or drug dealing can lead to
banishment, Cook-Searson said. Most people are given warnings before
it leads to that severe action, she said.

Half of the 12-member council, plus the chief, must vote to approve
banishment in each case. RCMP serve the subject with the resolution,
telling the person how much time he or she has to leave or escorting
the individual off the reserve.

Cook-Searson said the band has a good relationship with the RCMP and
has worked with police on the issue.

Next week, council will vote on banishing three people, two for
chronic public drunkenness and accosting people, and another for
issuing threats.

The banishments do not have to be permanent, she said.

The person can apply to have the resolution reversed if he or she has
shown remorse and is willing to make amends.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations vicechief Bobby Cameron
said the FSIN supports communities that use banishment as one safety tool.

In Cameron's home community, the Witchekan Lake First Nation near
Spiritwood, other measures have been taken against suspected drug dealers.

"We let them know we were watching them," he said, adding Witchekan
Lake officials also provided the names to the RCMP. The dealers left
without formal banishment.

He said most of the more than 70 First Nations in Saskatchewan have a
strategy that includes prevention, education and other principles of
restorative justice. Many reserves are patrolled by First Nations
"peacekeepers," who act as security officers, but also mediate
conflict and serve other functions.

"Each community will do what they see fit. Some of our communities
have been hit hard," he said.

Cameron said First Nations and outside agencies such as police,
educators, social workers and others need to develop more links.

"We have to come to a better working relationship," Cameron said. "It
is improving, but we have to do more."

He said there will always be problems until the underlying issues
such as housing and poverty are addressed.

"It takes a whole community to come up with the solutions," Cameron said.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development spokesperson Michelle
Perron said the department has no record of Saskatchewan First
Nations passing banishment laws, but First Nations are not required
to file all such resolutions with the federal government.