Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 Source: Daily Graphic (CN MB) Copyright: 2009 Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic Contact: http://www.bowesnet.com/dailygraphic/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/890 Author: Angela Brown FIRST NATIONS FOCUS ON REDUCING GANGS AND DRUGS About 100 people attended the first day of a two-day conference on gang disempowerment and reduction at Keeshkeemaquah building at Long Plains First Nation's urban reserve on Crescent Rd. W., just outside of Portage la Prairie on Wednesday. This is the second annual conference on the issue facing many First Nation communiites in the local area and across Manitoba. Long Plain Chief Dennis Meeches who spoke during the event said there needs to be more help. "We have a serious challenge and we need to work to come together collectively to find some possible solutions," he said. "This problem we have in our communities is going to be here for quite some time. We recognize that and we can't be in denial of that, but we also need to find a way to work with our communities and provincial and federal government to partner to educate and train our people, to help our First Nation youth regain thier identity ...." The organizer of the event was Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC). Lorraine Pompana, co-chairwoman of the Gang Disempowerment and Reduction committee with DOTC, based in Brandon, noted gang activity creates safety risks for a community. "The reality is in our communities gangs are encroaching into our territories and recruiting our youth and getting them involved in criminal activity," she said. "We had to make a start somewhere. So, we formed this committee of people that are like-minded and we got the chiefs on-board and they passed a band resolution to help us set up this committee and seek funding, to go forth with any activities to reduce crime and gang involvement." The goal of the conference is to provide information about how drugs are linked to gang activity and how area residents can work towards helping prevent gangs and drugs from becoming a problem in their communities. On Thursday the conference will continue with a focus on how drugs and gangs impact the schools and education and ways communities can try to help find solutions. - --- MAP posted-by: Doug