Pubdate: Thu, 18 May 2006
Source: Caledonia Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Fort Saint James Courier
Contact:  http://www.caledoniacourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3189
Author: Chris Shepherd
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

STICKING IT TO DRUG DEALERS

The sign at the top of the map reads: "Will you stand by and watch 
your community die from drugs and alcohol? Mark the drug dealers you 
know next door."

Below, 25 pins are stuck into a map of Nak'azdli. They show where 
passersby think drug dealers are working on the reserve.

The large map was one of many displays at a health fair in Kwah Hall 
on May 10, but it drew more than its share of attention.

Three red pins show the crystal meth dealers. Twelve white pins mark 
the crack/cocaine suppliers. Seven green pins single out marijuana 
dealers. People who supply alcohol are marked by three yellow pins. 
The suspected dealers are scattered across Nak'azdli and several 
locations have multiple pins stuck into them, showing they offer 
several types of drugs.

The pins were put there by community members who want to bring the 
drug problem on Nak'azdli out into the open, says Nak'azdli wellness 
worker Dawn Agno, who made the display.

Agno was surprised with the reception the map received.

She admits she doesn't know how accurate the information is but Agno 
says the exercise is an important step for people to show their 
concerns and suspicions in the community.

"This is for community members who are sick of dealers. They're tired 
of children getting access to drugs and alcohol."

Aileen Prince, the health director at the Nak'azdli Health Centre, 
was happy to see the map up. It shows the community how prevalent the 
problem is, she says, not that she needed to see the map to know 
drugs are a problem on the reserve.

In a 1999 survey done by the health centre, around nine per cent of 
the community said they were drug users, Prince said. A 2005 survey 
showed that number jumped to 29 per cent. That means 336 people 
reported they use drugs on the reserve.

"These (drugs) are killing these kids," Prince said. "It's going to 
get worse and worse."

Agno says the problem isn't only on Nak'azdli. She wanted to have a 
similar map of Fort St. James up but she couldn't get one in time.

A young man passing the map of the reserve echoed her thoughts. "The 
big dealers are in the town," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman