EMERGENCY MEETING AT OIB TO DEAL WITH DRUG PROBLEM

The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) spent over four hours in an intense working
session with non-OIB and OIB community members to take the first step in
finding solutions to the drug and alcohol problem which has claimed the
lives of four of their members, most recently Shane Baptiste, whose violent
death was directly related to drug addiction. All four youths died in
shootings and all shootings were associated with drug use.

Chief Clarence Louie called the emergency meeting, held Thursday, July 21
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Sen Pok Chin School, in response to
requests "from many people to host a meeting as quickly as possible to deal
with the drug activity."

Louie brought together several experts and agencies that specialize in this
area "to create a strategy to deal with those currently using drugs or
alcohol and to explore educational and preventative programs for the
younger group "

His request, made loud and clear at the onset of the meeting, was to bring
ideas that are realistic and cost effective, "don't give us ideas we can't
do anything about," he told the audience before they spoke, adding that he
believed the forum held previously in Westbank by the tribal council, which
included representatives from every band in the Okanagan as well as RCMP,
drug and addiction people, elders, youth and adults, resulted in a
compilation of ideas that were "mostly useless."

Most ideas cost money, he said, and while the OIB has more than most bands
it doesn't have an endless supply.

"I want to know what are the signs [of drug use]? We need to tell our
managers, give the co-workers insights -- our managers don't do this stuff
- -- they need to know what to look for on the job," he told the group of
over 60 people who attended the meeting.

There were many speakers with many ideas but certain themes emerged
throughout the session: without after-care, treatment centres have a high
failure rate; families need to be involved, set examples and guide their
children -- if not the parents then aunts and uncles and grandparents; that
drug and alcohol use are symptoms of a deeper problem and often are abused
to deaden emotional pain.

Louie believes that without a written system in place to deal with users
there will just be more of the same. "We have had offers from a treatment
centre on Vancouver Island that wants to train staff members, spend time
here but they need to know how we work and then they will help us," he
said. "Just giving out brochures is not enough -- most of our people won't
read them."

Rather, he wants to set up regular workshop sessions dealing initially with
those who have attendance problems with work or school, "that should be one
of the first signs -- it indicates a problem -- in fact it will be
considered a problem," he advised.

He acknowledged though that there is no panacea, no perfect system, "The
sad fact is [regardless of what we accomplish] it won't work for all the
people. I just want to be able to say this is what we did -- this is how
much we have spent -- but I think we will still have a problem."

One of the problems, he believes is the current justice system, "We need to
quit pussyfooting around -- we need to profile and identify these
individuals -- there needs to be enforcement -- zero tolerance and
consequences.

"We used to get written reports involving incidents on the reserve they
have been left with Council but they should be sent out to every member,"
he said, bemoaning the fact that legally names cannot be used and stating
that naming names would be a deterrent.

He is clearly frustrated with the situation, "Just the other day another
grow op was found on the reserve with over 260 plants. Kids are driving
uninsured and unlicensed vehicles around putting others at risk. We know
who they are. Part of my role is going to be to go to their parents,
grandparents and tell them."

He talked about one recent incident where the kids driving such a vehicle
were arrested and the vehicle was impounded, but then there was another
case where "an individual from the drug house where the shooting took place
led police on a high speed chase into the reserve and got away. Another one
who was stopped had a loaded machine gun, handgun, cocaine and a lot of
money was found in the vehicle.

"The old way of identifying these people worked better -- it was
embarrassing -- the police report will go out," he said, "criminals get
away with too much.

Staff Sergeant Walt Makepeace pointed out that there was an extended period
of time (two and a half years) when RCMP members "were not welcome here."
He said that this has changed now but underscored that their absence
created a perfect refuge for drug dealers and that the drug dealers heading
up this situation are major players, "They are extremely violent, there are
murders connected to this. This morning we stopped a woman who had a loaded
handgun in her purse as well as cocaine. We have confiscated AK47 assault
rifles."

Posing the question, 'what do drug dealers want?' Makepeace said that they
have taken over the reserve because "they want to hide, they don't want to
be bothered" and that the reserve has been an ideal location to meet these
needs.

"When there are parties -- there are always handguns there," he stated,
"the young lady that was stopped this morning said she was carrying a
loaded gun in her purse because she was scared -- after the shooting
everyone is scared."

He pointed out that it isn't just the drug dealers that are getting shot,
but innocent people as well, "The police need to feel welcome on the
reserve -- we need to work together," Makepeace concluded.

And it isn't just a problem for the OIB either. Southern Okanagan Secondary
School (SOSS) has had sufficient drug and alcohol related incidents to
necessitate community forums and the four-pillar approach for its students.
Ultimately the board has provided funding to hire drug prevention worker,
Jody Meyers, to work with SOSS and Osoyoos Secondary.

District 53 superintendent of schools, Vern Berg said that at SOSS there
were 46 suspensions in 2002-2003, last year the number grew to 52, and by
October of the past school year, there were already 30 and he noted this
was only a small percentage of drug and alcohol users who were caught.

Meyers provided some of the signs of drug use, "If you find light bulbs are
missing in your house it could be a sign that crystal meth is being used --
the glass in a light bulb is tempered and withstands heat; if you find
flaps, foil, rolling papers, scissors, pipes, hot knives that are black on
the end, vials, little trinkets --pot users love trinkets. Excuses 'I am
holding it for a friend, I need the money for bowling'.

"If they are smoking pot they will pig out on food, then have a nap. These
are signs of marijuana use."

While there were hours of ideas, testimonials and concerns, Russell
Baptiste summed it up by saying, "You have to give your kids survival
skills. Teach your children before they go out into the world -- be there
to guide them, hold their hands -- put them to sleep and talk to them. Live
by your rules -- when you have a drink will it be pop, water or beer? If
you drink your kids will. Teach them by showing."