Buffalo River Dene Nation re-issues state of emergency

One of the Elders, she said, was injured by a young woman who was believed to be under the influence of drugs.

Catarat said arson is also a serious concern in the community.

“The crisis is overwhelming,” she said. “An ability to feel safe in our community, and the wellbeing of our members [is] at stake. And this is escalating. We need to take extreme measures and we are calling on the federal and provincial governments.”

The First Nation is using its own resources to put additional security into the community right now. It is also looking at getting training for Elder self-defence courses.

Catarat said the problem with gangs and drugs is too much for the community to deal with.

“For a small community to have three gang affiliations, gangs driving around with handguns intimidating people. Elders sitting at night with a gun loaded so their wife can sleep, because their grandkids are affiliated with gangs. It is a crisis. It is an emergency. We need to do something now.”

The First Nation is asking for support and more resources to put a stop to the violence happening in the community.

Catarat alluded to the violent stabbings on the James Smith Cree Nation in September that led to 11 deaths.

“That could have been one of us,” she said. “It could be any community. We are asking the government to acknowledge and to offer support to help our people.”

Catarat said the Buffalo River Dené Nation needs more services and resources for its members.

“Living in the north, we don’t have detox centres in our community. Living in the north, we don’t have mental health therapists outside our back door. These are issues we have to deal with in the northern communities,” she said. “We don’t have capacity to be able to help our people.”

Catarat said the need for more policing enforcement is also an issue. The First Nation is looking at hiring its own security agency to conduct patrols, to help make the community safer, and for the Elders to feel safe. But the cost is high.

“We’re doing what we can with what we have, and we don’t have much,” she said.

Catarat added that the First Nation has five RCMP members in the community, so the response to the recent incident on Friday was quick. But there is no RCMP station in the community, and the nearest detachment is over an hour and a half away when the roads are good. There are challenges too if the RCMP members are not available or are away transporting an individual to the detachment.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said something needs to be done to help all First Nation communities in crisis.

“We’ve developed and started what we call a First Nation Police Association, where it would be guided and supported from our chiefs and councils right across Canada,” he said. “But to be fully funded to do the ground work, right at the First Nation level, to eliminate the response times, to eliminate those harmful acts of violence as they happen, or soon after.”

“We’re calling on the federal and provincial governments to meet with our chiefs and councils, and our Elders,” he said.

Cameron said policing for all First Nations communities “is a treaty right.”

He said the First Nations should have their own policing systems that should be fully funded, similar to the RCMP.

He added that states of emergencies on First Nations are common, which is a grave concern.

Cameron is asking for government funding to develop a First Nation Police Association, to create safer First Nation communities everywhere.

“This First Nation Police Association would enhance and create a safer and healthier vibrant community, right amongst our own First Nation communities,” he said. “This is what we’ll continue to push for, and strive for until it happens.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Buffalo River Dene Nation re-issues state of emergency

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