Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2004 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Eliza Barlow ADDICTIONS WORKER APPEALS FOR 'DRY RESERVE' Booze, Drugs Hurting Community, He Says SIOUX VALLEY DAKOTA NATION -- An addictions worker here says alcoholism and drug use are so widespread that it warrants turning this community into a "dry reserve." "One-hundred per cent of this community is affected by alcohol in one way or another," said Warren Hotain, one of two Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program (NADAP) workers at Sioux Valley. "We've talked about implementing a dry reserve. At least that would give our police officers the right to stop every vehicle and search it. It could stop people from drinking on the reserve." Leaders in numerous aboriginal communities in northern Manitoba, such as Norway House and Shamattawa, have brought in "dry reserve" bylaws that ban alcohol and illegal drugs, giving police the power to search for and seize the substances. But for now, Sioux Valley's chief and council are tight-lipped about whether they're considering such a bylaw. "It's got to be a personal choice," said Chief Vince Tacan. "There's lots of examples of what alcohol can do to a person, and people should realize that. We have enough on our plates without telling people how to live their lives." Eighty-five per cent of criminal offences -- such as spousal assault and break and enter -- that happen on Sioux Valley are fuelled by alcohol, estimates Jim Cockburn, acting chief of the Dakota Ojibway Police Service. "It's the major cause of our youth doing the crimes," agreed Hotain. Hotain said he's frustrated by declining attendance in his addictions programs, particularly in the face of the illegal drugs -- marijuana, hash and even crystal meth -- he said are now turning up. "I'm sad to say that it will probably take some kid overdosing on an illegal drug in order for the community to find out there's a drug problem on this reserve," he said. Hotain said two years ago, when he started his employment, an average of 15 people came to his group addictions sessions. Now, he says, that average has shrunk to three. "The clients are not attending our programs," he said. "The youth are being bullied not to come." Councillor William McKay said that while council acknowledges the alcohol and drug problem, Sioux Valley is trying to deal with it through increased community policing and prevention programs in its schools before doing anything as drastic as going dry. The band has just put out job postings for four band constables, who will partner with DOPS officers to patrol the reserve at night. During that hiring process, Garth Blacksmith and Mike Wacanta, mechanics with Sioux Valley public works, are doing the band constable job from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekends. Much of their shift is spent enforcing the curfew the band imposes on minors. "There's a lot of vandalism going on," said Blacksmith. "A lot of kids are running around with nothing to do. Windows have been broken at the school, the gas station got broken into." Tacan said another of the council's strategies is to keep the community's youth "busy" with a series of camps and powwows so that they don't turn to drinking to combat boredom. Tacan added one of council's long-term goals is for Sioux Valley to build its own Dakota-based residential treatment centre for alcohol and drug addicts on Sioux Valley, rather than sending them off to treatment centres run by other native groups in other parts of the province. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart