State of emergency over substance abuse in Shamattawa leads to vehicle searches, patrols of snowmobile trails
CBC
A northern Manitoba First Nation is cracking down further on drugs and alcohol after declaring a state of emergency over bootlegging in the community.
Leaders in Shamattawa First Nation have made a band council resolution to give local and hired security officers the power to search vehicles, people's luggage and, if necessary, their homes, says a band council resolution posted to social media.
"Me and my husband came in and we were searched," said Sheri Schweder, a Shamattawa resident who wasn't happy about getting stopped March 5 after a 22-hour drive home from Winnipeg via the winter road.
They didn't have banned substances in their vehicle, she said.
"Part of the reason I got mad was because I don't engage in bootlegging. I never sell anything. I don't do drugs."
Shamattawa, which is supposed to be a dry community, is the latest First Nation to impose searches to stop the flow of illicit drugs and alcohol amid concerns about substance abuse.
Walter Wastesicoot, grand chief of the Keewatin Tribal Council, which represents 11 northern Manitoba First Nations including Shamattawa, said bootlegging and substance abuse issues get worse during the winter road season.
"People are dying, people are overdosing," Wastesicoot said.
KTC declared a regional state of emergency last March over "system-wide failures in public safety, health and infrastructure," he said.
Shamattawa is a remote community in northeastern Manitoba connected to the rest of the province by its airport and by winter roads.
It hired Anishinaabe Ambassadors Inc. to help train band constables and security officers to monitor outgoing and incoming traffic on the winter road to the community and search all vehicles and traveller luggage entering the First Nation, the band council resolution says.
People who don't comply with the rules or a search request may be denied entry to the community, the resolution says. People's homes can also be searched if directed by chief and council.
Shamattawa First Nation Chief Jordna Hill didn't respond to multiple requests for comment from CBC this week.
James Favel, president of Anishinaabe Ambassadors, said his company is supporting the Shamattawa council resolution against drugs and alcohol.
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