The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) is calling for support to combat the problems of violence and crime in Pelican Narrows.
Early Monday afternoon at the PBCN Health Services building in Prince Albert, the First Nation’s leadership called for support from both the federal and provincial governments to help deal with the issues impacting the community, which remains under a state of emergency.
Among the calls is for health care workers to be brought in to the community to relieve the regular health staff who have been overwhelmed dealing with people injured in the violence along with those impacted by illicit drugs. Leadership is also asking for law enforcement to work with the First Nation to enforce band resolutions and for there to be an increased law enforcement presence.
PBCN Chief Karen Bird told media the violence and crime is having a wide ranging impact.
“Our health centre, our schools, every place that’s meant to keep us safe and strong, their all in crisis, it’s more than just a rough patch, it’s an emergency,” she said.
In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Scott Moe, which was provided to media Monday, PBCN said they have provided both levels of government with a comprehensive community safety proposal. However, the letter said the response from both levels of government has fallen short leaving PBCN on its own.
“Up until now we haven’t seen a dime of government support for our proposal for community safety we presented last November, everything we’ve done we’ve paid for ourselves, pulling other resources from places that need them to,” said Bird.
Chief Bird was joined by a number of PBCN band councillors at the media conference, which included a number from Pelican Narrows. One of those councillors, Sarah Swann said meth has had a major impact in the community, which has brought along with it gangs and gun violence.
“In Pelican, everyday we hear gunshots, everybody lives in fear,” she said.
Swann said she has had members approach her and confess they have problems with addictions and need help. She added many of those people tell her Pelican Narrows needs a detox centre where people dealing with addictions can go to get the help they need.
“I know they are seeking for help, they’re hurting,” she said.
Nurse speaks about toll on healthcare staff
Another person present at the media conference was Sarah Van den Broeck, a nurse employed at the health clinic in Pelican Narrows. Van den Broeck, who joined the media conference virtually explained the violence in the community has had a real impact on health care workers as they are the ones dealing with the after effects.
“We are looking after patients who are the victims of violence, gunshot wounds on an almost a daily basis, attacks by weapons such as machetes, hammers, knives, many stabbings,” she said.
Van den Broeck said substance abuse is major issue in the community, with meth being especially destructive. Besides the violence brought on by the illicit drug trade, Van den Broeck said health care staff have also been dealing with the issues brought on by drug abuse.
“We see repeated overdoses, suicide attempts,” she said.
Van den Broeck, who has worked in Pelican Narrows for seven years, noted the situation in the community has gotten worse from when she first arrived, a trend which she said is continuing.
“(I) have seen a drastic change, particularly within the last couple of years and more importantly even within the last six months, things have gotten significantly harder,” she said.
(Top Photo. PBCN Chief Karen Bird speaks to media Monday afternoon. Photo by Michael Joel-Hansen.)