Onion Lake Cree Nation remains in a state of emergency

Onion Lake Cree Nation is still in a state of emergency and the measures implemented are helping control gang-related activity, according to Philip Chief, director of operations.

OLCN declared a state of emergency Jan. 24 after a string of gang and drug-related violence threatened the safety of its 4,000 residents. OLCN has three townships spanning 188,000 acres.

“It’s a day-by-day situation,” said Chief in a phone interview March 10.

So far, 14 suspected meth drug houses were shut down. 

“Once evictions have been done the units are boarded up and they are assessed for the level of toxication from meth use,” said Chief. 

OLCN purchased a 49-person dormitory from a camp service out of Alberta. Infrastructure such as energy and power are being put in and the band hopes to have the units ready for occupancy in four to six weeks. The trailers will provide immediate safe homes for people wanting to get out of gangs and break addictions. The trailers are being converted into rooms with showers and bathroom areas, as well as meeting and office space.

This comes at a cost and so far OLCN has shouldered the expense. 

“It will cost $1.6 million to renovate those 14 units,” said Chief. 

OLCN leadership went to Ottawa at the end of January to ask Indigenous Services Canada for an addition $16 million in funding to fight drug and gang related activity. More counsellors are needed as well as health services staff.

“The level of resources we currently have available, we have stretched them to the max.” 

Indigenous Service Canada was contacted but they didn’t provide comment by press time. 

Check stops at different times and locations continue and any suspicious vehicles are reported to the RCMP for follow up. 

A tip line was also created. The information from callers is passed on to the RCMP for further investigation. 

“The tip line has been busy,” said Chief. “There have been a lot of positive results in terms of what we have been doing.”

Once a week the leadership meets to review the state of emergency. 

OLCN leadership also met with neighbouring bands to share information, provide support and create an alliance document to help other bands tackling the same issues. Chief said as soon as one band cracks down on gang activity the gangs tend to move to other reserves.

OLCN will stay in a state of emergency as long as necessary. 

“We know we had to do it,” said Chief. 

Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Battlefords Regional News-Optimist