Pubdate: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Suzanne Fournier Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) SEVEN CHIEFS VOWING TO ESCALATE WAR ON DRUGS AFTER 3 SHOOTING DEATHS The chiefs of seven Okanagan bands vowed yesterday to escalate their war on drugs in the wake of three shooting deaths on the Penticton reserve. "These tragic deaths happened and now we're in a crisis, but it would be an even greater tragedy if we didn't learn from these deaths -- we have to step up our decade-long war on drugs," said Osoyoos band Chief Clarence Louie. The chiefs and councillors said cheap and addictive drugs like crack cocaine are creating havoc with a vulnerable population, young and old. The chiefs agreed to try to develop their own Okanagan Nation criminal code and to solidify their partnership with the RCMP and B.C. Solicitor-General Rich Coleman to combat drugs. "This is not just an on-reserve problem, it is everywhere throughout B.C. and the RCMP is stretched so thin it is difficult for them to make our drug-related problems on-reserve a priority," said Penticton band Chief Stewart Phillip, who is also the president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. "We have now experienced such horrible violence that we need to resist being desensitized to this violence and normalizing more violence." The three men were killed Oct. 29, the result of a simmering feud that also left two men injured. Family members say a drug-turf war was at the heart of the dispute. Killed were: Quincy Paul, 29, Robin Baptiste, 24, and Damien Endreny, 20. Tommy Lee Gabriel, 31, was shot in the jaw and his younger half-brother, Billy Gabriel, 18, was shot in the arm. Dustin Paul, 24, a Penticton band member and cousin of Quincy and Baptiste, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Oliver RCMP said a stabbing took place on the Osoyoos reserve on Monday, the same day as the funeral for Endreny. Cpl. D.M. Martin said Candice Kruger, 21, a Penticton band member, was stabbed five times, treated at hospital and released. Martin said police believe the stabbing is connected to "a wake related to the funeral" and have recommended charges against a 15-year-old girl. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin