A drug and gang forum spearheaded by Jacob Pete, a Little Pine First Nation elder, was held Nov. 22 and 23 at the Dekker Centre in North Battleford. The forum’s title is Reclaiming Miyopimatisiwin: What gets in the way? (Miyopimatisiwin translates as “the good life.”) Pete says there is gang and drug activity in North Battleford and in the surrounding area, and believes such problems can begin to be solved with the help of Indigenous traditions, spirituality and customs.
The second day of a drug and gang forum in North Battleford last week saw a morning presentation by co-chair Milton Tootoosis followed by a video presentation called Wahkohtowin: the Relationship of Cree People and Natural Law. Wahkohtowin is a Cree word referring to the rules that guide relationships between one another.
The rest of the day’s sessions saw participants take part in breakout groups and present group reports, which included ideas on how to move forward to address the issues. A few of the ideas that were mentioned included seeking a detox centre or healing lodge for the area, reaching out to youth, involving family and elders, and incorporating the “seven sacred teachings.”
The plan was for the feedback gathered at the session to go into a larger report that can address the issues. From that, broader discussions are expected to emerge.
“It is definitely not the end of our conversation, this is just the start,” Tootoosis said.
The last speaker Friday was Vice-Chief David Pratt, who holds the health portfolio with FSIN. He spoke of FSIN’s efforts towards addressing the opioid and crystal meth epidemics.
“Whether it is crystal meth, whether it is opioid abuse, it is happening,” Pratt said. “It’s affecting our families and affecting the health and safety of our children.”
For solutions, he wanted to look at more treatment centres and facilities, with a view to making sure such facilities are “culturally relevant to our people.”
Pratt also expressed his belief that drugs are the driver behind the high crime numbers and gang activity in North Battleford.
“If we did the research and the numbers I think it would show that everything’s connected to the drug trade,” said Pratt.
