Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Anne Kyle Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) CRYSTAL METH ON RESERVES Chief Allan Adam made an emotional plea to Saskatchewan's First Nations chiefs to take immediate action to stem the flow of crystal methamphetamines in their communities. "Crystal Meth. We seem to be whispering it in here. But it is a very lethal matter that we have to deal with right now. I think that the only time as leaders that we will wake up is when it affects us personally," the Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nations Chief said. "And today I can tell you that I am affected by it personally and I can tell you it is not a good journey to be going through as a leader. And I think that as leaders here, as leaders of the FSIN, provincial and federal governments, we have to wake up to how real this problem is," Adam told the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations' winter Legislative Assembly Thursday. Adam made a painful admission that he learned three weeks ago that his teenage daughter, who he said came from a good home, was hooked on the drug. First Nations leaders have to be prepared to point fingers and name those in their community, who are making and selling crystal meth, and banish them from their reserves, Adam said, and they have to be willing to tell parents' if their children are using this "crap." "Right now there are crack houses on most of our reserves. How many of you are prepared to look deep enough to find out who is cooking this crap up? We have to tackle this problem head on and we have to do it now." Adam warned that if nothing is done immediately to deal with this drug, which is more addictive and more destructive than alcohol, it will destroy future First Nations leaders. "No matter who or where we come from we have to come together as one to tackle this matter head on ...We do not need to see any more Jimmy Deans," he said, referring to a young 18-year-old First Nations boy whose death was linked to crystal meth. While earlier in the week the assembly passed a resolution to seek government funds to develop prevention and treatment strategies, FSIN Vice-Chief Lawrence Joseph said Thursday he would meet with the RCMP and the police chiefs of Saskatchewan to discuss more immediate action. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom