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By Nigel Maxwell
The James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) is taking a proactive approach to addressing crime and what leaders are calling an escalating drug crisis.
Following a vote held during a community meeting Tuesday night, a new community safety advisory committee was formed, made up of six members – two from each of their three nations. The group will oversee an “intervention circle” comprised of community leaders and representatives from the health department, security and the RCMP. Their job will be to isolate and provide support to the individuals and families battling addictions.
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“It’s more or less telling people we want to help,” JSCN Chief Kirby Constant told paNOW.
He explained that the people who are offered help will be told the onus is on them to accept the help, become contributing members of the community and leave the current path they are on.
“So if they want to continue on with that behavior we don’t want in our community, then there’s going to be repercussions,” he said, saying evictions and even banishment could be considered.
In many ways, the plan is very similar to Prince Albert’s HUB, which was launched over 10 years ago and involves the co-ordination of multiple agencies to address troubling trends.
The community meeting held Tuesday night at JSCN was opened with a prayer and smudge ceremony. Constant said the mood was very calm as people expressed a desire for change.
Over the weekend, police responded to a break-in at a residence on the First Nation that involved multiple people entering the home with weapons. One of the residents was shot and others were assaulted.
Many local residents are also still traumatized by the horrific events that occurred in the fall of 2022, when 11 people were killed and 17 others were injured during a mass stabbing. Constant said the plan that was voted on and accepted Tuesday night represents months of hard work and discussion.
“These criminal people are coming into the community and basically having their way with some of our members… Even though they’re in that lifestyle, we are not gonna tolerate it,” he said. “Right now the community is living in fear, and we have to do something about it.”
In the meantime, plans for a wellness centre continue to come together. Noting some geo-technical survey work happening over the next few months, Constant said he hopes to see shovels in the ground by the fall. Construction of a new detox centre is also expected to begin soon.
The James Smith Cree Nation is not alone in its attempt to deal with suspected drug dealers and gang members. Through a social media post, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation announced that a number of people not welcome in their member communities.
Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, meanwhile, has announced a “zero tolerance” response to any and all illegal activity. Any homes found to be involved in the selling of drugs or gang activity will be shut down, the First Nation said.
