Following the death of a young man attributed to addictions in Sayisi Dene First Nation, MKO is looking to renew efforts to addressing drugs and alcohol smuggling in the isolated community.

 

Grand Chief Garrison Settee says this has been an ongoing concern for a number of years, adding a multi-jurisdictional approach would be the ideal way to lower the impact of bootleggers and drug dealers in MKO communities.

 

Settee adds his office has reached out to senior officials with Manitoba Justice regarding the role Canada Post plays in delivering alcohol and drugs into Tadoule Lake without a First Nations safety officer being able to inspect packages prior to being shipped out.

 

Sayisi Dene First Nation Chief Evan Yassie expressed worries about drugs being smuggled into the community getting worse as the winter road into the community reopens.

 

Yassie and Settee go on to call for a “whole of government” response to help deliver harm reduction measures and mental health and addictions supports to Indigenous communities.

 

Thompson RCMP responded to a weapons-related incident in Tadoule Lake, where the 21-year-old man was suspected of assaulting community members before committing suicide when confronted by officers.

 

Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating the incident.