Manitoba First Nation council resolution removes 3 alleged drug dealers from community

A Manitoba First Nation is on high alert after its councilors banned three alleged drug dealers from the community in an effort to reduce overdoses and drug-related deaths.

The leadership of the Roseau River First Nation, located about 85 kilometers south of Winnipeg, signed a band council resolution on Sept. 23 to remove suspected drug dealers from the community on Friday, band council member Rachel Ferreira said.

About 20 people have died of overdoses in the rural community of about 2,000 people since March 2023, she told the CBC on Saturday.

“This council will not tolerate drug dealers in our community. They’re killing our people and that’s probably going to drive them out of our community and stay away,” Ferreira said.

“If someone overdoses, they don’t care. They are not responsible for their own death. They don’t care. This is money in the pocket.”

The resolution, signed by four of the council’s five members, including chairman Gary Roberts, called for the removal of the three individuals and warned that other known drug traffickers and individuals yet to be identified would follow suit.

The council is asking people to come forward

She said families have been asking the chief and council to do something about the drug problem. Now, the band council resolution shows community members that leaders care about their well-being and are listening to their concerns, she said.

“Enough,” said Ferreira.

“We have an obligation to protect our children, to protect our people, to protect our elders and to make it a safe society.”

She said the band council has asked people to identify any drug dealers and report them to the Manitoba Police Service, which has received permission from the council to stop any vehicle entering or leaving the community.

CBC contacted the chief of the Roseau River First Nation, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Over the weekend, Ferreira, police and community housing officials boarded up two dispensaries and evicted people accused of selling drugs. She said they were notified five days before the removal.

Ferreira said since then she and others have been threatened by alleged drug dealers and fears for her family’s lives, but she wants to stay strong for her community.

She said Roseau River First Nation residents are afraid to risk their lives by reporting illegal drug activity, but she wants to reassure people that any reports will remain anonymous and help keep the community safe.

“You’re saving someone’s life by telling,” Ferreira said, adding that drugs like meth, crack, heroin and down — drugs expected to contain an unknown opioid — are mostly seen in the first nation.

More information about the methadone clinic and counseling services to help those struggling with addiction will soon be available, she said.

First Nations are taking action

Roseau River First Nation council member Terrance Nelson said they are following the example of other First Nations that have done the same, such as Shamattawa, which has allowed security officers to search people’s vehicles, homes and luggage to stop the illegal flow of drugs and alcohol. earlier this year in the northern Manitoba community.

“First Nations are making it very clear to drug traffickers … that they cannot target our youth. They can’t target our people with all these damn drugs, you know, they’re killing our people,” Nelson said Saturday.

He said police have been entering schools with dogs used to detect drugs, firearms or explosives to alert students to illegal drugs and send a message that children and youth are vulnerable targets.

Ferreira is calling on Manitoba’s other First Nations to work together to address the overdose crisis and prevent drug-related deaths by allowing the province’s First Nations Police Service to conduct traffic stops in their communities.

Additionally, she would like her community, which also faces housing and food insecurity, to have a proper treatment center to help those struggling with addiction.