Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005
Source: South Peace News, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 South Peace News
Contact:  http://www.southpeacenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2261
Author: Shay-Lee Savill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

PEAVINE CONSIDERS DRUG TESTING ITS EMPLOYEES

The Peavine Metis Settlement is looking to implement drug testing for all 
of the settlement's employees.

The move comes at a time when the settlement has started to bond together 
in a fight to rid their community of drugs.

Peavine is currently working with lawyers to try to start implementing the 
policy for new employees this summer. Current settlement employees will not 
have to adhere to the policy until six months after the policy is implemented.

The policy will also apply to company's employed by the settlement, such as 
Peavine Enterprises and Peavine Sand and Gravel.

Sharon Gauchier, Director of Education and Community for Peavine says that 
even though they do want to make a strong stance against drug abuse, they 
"don't want to invade on anybody's human rights."

Currently, the settlement says that it will not immediately fire employees 
who fail the drug test.

"We are offering supports too for anybody who has addictions," says 
Gauchier. "Nobody will lose their job over it without being offered help 
first."

Peavine currently employs around 37 permanent employees and 70 project workers.

Gauchier says that there has been an increase in thefts and in violence 
within the community, and many people believe that this activity is 
directly linked to drug use.

Besides implementing drug testing, the settlement plans to start bringing 
in presentations on the short and long term effects of drugs. As well, they 
would like to start having AA and NA meetings right in the settlement, so 
that people who would like to or need to attend these meetings do not need 
to drive to High Prairie for them.

These initiatives come in the wake of the very successful Peavine Walk for 
Life. Settlement members are happy that people are finally taking a stand 
against something that is so detrimental to their society and to their people.

"The community as a whole seems to think it's a good thing and are glad to 
see things are finally being started."

Acting administrator Violet Noskey has no further comment on the matter 
except to say that they are only in the development stages of the policy.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom