Christa-Lee Powder had just turned 29-years-old in December 2017, but only eight days later she died from a drug overdose.
This past weekend her mother, Eve Powder, held a balloon release ceremony to not only honour her memory but to also shed light on a persistent problem in her Stoney Nakoda First Nation community in Morley – methamphetamine.
“I want to let people know out here that it’s just wrong for what’s going on on the reserve, this meth,” Powder said.
She said her daughter was found in another home on the reserve. Powder left behind two children, nine and 11, who are now cared for by Powder.
“There are a lot of other parents that have lost their children with that sort of drug,” Powder said.
“We can all talk about this and do a rally and stop this meth and all this going around out here.”
Powder said it’s important to her that the conversation is made more widespread so that action can be taken.
“I want to send a message to parents because I know most of them won’t step up and say anything,” she said. Let’s get out there and stop this drug.”
The balloon release was held at Christa-Lee Powder’s grave site at the Chiniki cemetery, with a ceremony proceeding it.
