The leaders in Sheshatshiu have locked the central community of Labrador Innu of approximately 1,200 people in an effort to curb drug flow, granting community security officers the power to deny vehicles and that people previously prohibited entering.
The order entered into force on Monday night, in the context of community meetings with residents who proposed new ideas to help prevent illegal substances that reach any of Sheshatshiu’s entries.
“Drugs are a big problem in the community, and I think everyone knows. Each home knows it,” said Eugene Hart, head of the first Nation of Sheshatshiu Innu, to CBC News on Tuesday.
“We also need the help of the community to move forward. Because we cannot do it on our own.”
Around 150 people attended the meetings on Monday and Tuesday, including Yvette Michel. She says she has had enough when it comes to the growing amount of addiction and overdose.
“I think everyone in this community fear losing their loved ones,” Michel said.
“Enough is enough of these people … drugs that take care of our community. We have to take care of our next generation.”
The road to Sheshatshiu has been blocked, and security officers are stopping all vehicles entering the community of the first nations. These officers have the power to deny entry completely, and as Andrea McGuare of CBC reports, residents say that loved ones are now taking desperate measures to access drugs.
Sheshatshiu has treated with similar crises before. The city faced a prevalence of gas cementing in the early 2010s, and declared an emergency state after a series of suicide attempts in October 2019.
In March 2024, Innu Nation said that community leaders were worried “for the failure of the RCMP, which monitor the region, to reduce the sale of illicit drugs that flow in all their communities.”
But Hart said that this crisis feels different, since he says that drugs are in the hands of young people.
“This is affecting homes and children, younger children involved. Therefore, people just ask [for] aid, [and] We are here to help as much as we can, “he said.
Florence Milley, one of the meetings coorganizers, said the great participation is important.
“There will be resistance, there will be questions, there will be fears. But we are trying to face something. You will never know if you don’t try,” he said.
“We are not looking to hate drug traffickers, that is not the problem. The problem is wanting to stop so we can try to cure people who suffer.”
Pashanish Penashue, who attended a meeting, told CBC News how he has seen that drugs affect the community.
“A girl I knew, she took her away from us. And she had … three beautiful children,” Penashue said.
Drugs also almost removed his life, he said.
“Now I’m sober, and being in that dark place is very afraid. And I never want to return there,” said Penashue.
“Honestly, I think this is something that could really have a good [outcome] For our future. Because he has to stop. “
Part of that collaboration effort implies supporting people who face addiction, said Penashue, which, according to him, goes beyond simply putting someone in jail.
He would like to see a treatment or detoxification treatment in the community, but residents like Milley say that residents cannot expect that.
“We need help as soon as possible, to establish some kind of emergency measures or emergency funds,” said Milley.
RCMP INSP. Danny Williams, responsible for the management of the detachments of the Labrador district, also attended the meeting on Tuesday. He said the police are committed to keeping drugs out of the streets and building trust with residents.
“We want to make sure to show the community that we are accessible when they have problems and concerns,” said Williams.
“That we are willing to listen to them and work with the community themselves … when they have those problems towards a solution or to put things in their place.”
If you or someone you know are fighting, this is where to get help:
This guide of Mental addiction and health center Describe how to talk about suicide with someone who worries him.
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