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.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart