A remote northern Manitoba First Nation has declared a state of emergency following the deaths of three people in the community over the past two weeks.
"We've seen the hurt and pain suffered by our First Nation and we can't wait any longer. We are dealing with emergencies and tragedy on a daily basis here it seems," said Chief Shirley Ducharme of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, a community of just over 1,000 people at South Indian Lake, about 130 kilometres northwest of Thompson.
She is also urging the province to limit the hours of operation for the local ferry to control the flow of alcohol entering the community. People have turned to drugs and alcohol to relieve their pain during the crisis, but the substance abuse just creates a domino effect and causes more problems in the community, she said.Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak, a political advocacy organization that represents 26 First Nations in the province's north, has deployed a mobile crisis response team to assist O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation.
"We are also going to assist our member First Nation with their call for more housing by advocating on their behalf federally and asking the province to limit the hours of their ferry to control the flow of alcohol into their community."Ducharme also wants a healing centre built in her community, so people can get help closer to home
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