FSIN Initiates Crackdown On Drug Houses

FSIN Initiates Crackdown On Drug Houses

Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 13:28

 

 

New guidelines are being used on Saskatchewan reserves to deal with known drug pushers.

 

The guidelines have been developed by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

 

They empower band councils to evict known sellers or producers of illegal drugs from on-reserve houses — even if they haven’t been charged or convicted of a criminal offence.

 

FSIN vice chief Lawrence Joseph says the courts have already established that a First Nation can do this by drafting a band council resolution.

 

Joseph says all reserve residents, including known drug pushers, are given fair warning that they will lose their rights to a house and other band privileges if they pedal illicit drugs.

 

The bylaw is then enforced with the help of the local RCMP.

 

Joseph says Saskatchewan chiefs decided to borrow an approach used in Manitoba to battle the growing threat of crystal meth.

 

Joseph says because the province has already adopted similar legislation, there’s now “no place in the province where drug pushers can hide”.