Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 2015
Source: Kenora Daily Miner And News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Kenora Daily Miner and News
Contact: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/letters
Website: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/855
Author: Amber McGuckin
Page: A2

ZERO TOLERANCE PETITION

Whitefish Bay First Nation Votes to Warn Bootleggers and Drug Dealers

Whitefish Bay First Nation members voted to send a warning to alleged 
bootleggers and drug dealers in the community on Wednesday night.

The First Nation held a band meeting and voted to kick a non-band 
First Nation member out of the community and create mandatory drug 
testing for chief and council to show the younger people in the 
community their leaders are drug-free.

Darrell Mandamin helped start a community petition to say people have 
had enough with the crime in the community. As of Thursday, the 
petition had 164 signatures.

"The bootleggers and drug dealers in our community are starting to 
sell to our kids so they don't care what kind of customers they have 
as long as the person has money," he said. "Young people are breaking 
into elders' homes, they're trading stolen items for drugs and 
alcohol. These stolen items are showing up in the Winnipeg pawn shops."

Mandamin said council didn't move to remove any First Nation band members, yet.

"Right now we're hoping that they get the message. This is the first 
step," said Mandamin. "We know who these drug dealers are. We know 
who these bootleggers are. It's a small community."

Mandamin said community members will be monitoring the people they 
suspect of illegal activity and if it continues, they will take action.

Mandamin doesn't live in the community any more but still has family 
there and he has been concerned with their safety for a while.

"It's built up to a point where it's a free for all. The drug dealers 
and the bootleggers know that they can do whatever they want to do, 
but after last night's band meeting I think they're going to get the 
message that if they're not going to listen to the community and stop 
selling drugs and alcohol to our kids, then they're going to be 
[kicked] out of the community."

Mandamin said part of the problem is that people will have things 
stolen from them but won't report it to the police.

"They feel there's not enough evidence for police to proceed," he 
said. "But in the community, we know who did it. We know where the 
stolen goods go."

Whitefish Bay First Nation Chief Howard Kabestra wasn't available for 
comment after the band meeting, but said before the meeting that 
council is working on the issue.

"We are working with community service providers to address the 
problem including support services for addictions," he said. "We want 
to let the offenders know there is zero tolerance for drug dealers 
and bootleggers."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom