Manitoba reserve gets tough on drug users

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Manitoba's Opaskwayak Cree Nation is getting tough with a new drug awareness program. Community members and band leaders are going beyond the common "Just Say No" campaign and telling drug users to 'Just Get Out.'

Getting caught with drugs once nets a warning and a lot of community support to get cleaned-up. Getting caught again could result in being tossed off the reserve, said Chief William G. Lathlin.

"There's a warning given and at the same time we draw up a contract for them. There are steps they have to show that they are changing their ways," he said about the first time someone is caught.

If it happens again and the contract is broken . . . "You are no longer welcome in," he said flatly.

Several years ago, the 3,800 member band near The Pas, Man. drafted a declaration to fight the growing rate of drug use in the community.

It has always been the intent to do something about the problem, said Lathlin, but it is only now that the whole community is getting behind the campaign.

He said there are services available within the community and surrounding area where people who want to quit drugs can get help. The whole community is trying to help.

"It's no use saying, 'Just quit this,' if you are not providing the services," said Lathlin. "We want to help the people who are trying to make changes in their lives."

For people coming to the reserve who are not members and who are caught with drugs, the action is swift, said the chief.

"Those people have no business being in the community at all. They are trespassing and we'll throw them out," he said.

Regional Indian affairs spokesman Wayne Hannah said that under the Indian Act, the band can eject people who are not members, but to kick out band members is not so easy.

He said in order for the band to do that, a bylaw must be made which then must be accepted by the minister. The bylaw must not restrict any human rights or infringe on the Charter or Rights and Freedoms.

"We've check on [Opaskwayak] and we have no bylaws registered to exercise this kind of power," said Hannah.

The community can, however, make life a little difficult for someone who doesn't want to abide by the new drug campaign.

Making access to housing priority lists more difficult or exclusion from band operated functions may be equally effective in getting the zero tolerance message out.

Lathlin said a real urgency to take a stance on the war on drugs occured because the problem has reached the children. He said there have been reports of children using drugs in schools and of parents getting their children to sell drugs. Something had to be done and done fast, he said.

Complaints from the community about suspicious traffic in certain areas has decreased and a number of people have even contacted the band office looking for substance abuse help.

"There have been a number of people come forward and express a desire to not use that stuff anymore," said Lathlin.

So far, after a month of enforcement, the new program seems to be working.

"To me, it's working. It's small, but it's noticable," he said.

The Kawechetonanow Centre, the local counseling and referral service at Opaskwayak, is doing its part to support the community drug campaign.

The centre submits articles to the local newspaper every Thursday about drugs, addiction and recovery.

"Everybody is doing their part to help and we are doing ours," said Gina Laroque, a spokesperson for the centre.

The community plans to keep going with the program until drug use is wiped out of the area.

"It has to be on a day-to-day basis, and it has to come from the whole community," said Chief Lathlin.