That dialogue regarding prescription and illicit drugs has been initiated is an important step in our community.
Tragedy, violence and grief has affected our community in such a way that it cannot be ignored. When a loved one is lost, a family is left in mourning. Loss is already difficult but it is made that much more intense when the loss is sudden, violent or senseless.
It will be three years this July since a nephew of mine passed away. He died of heart failure brought on by cocaine and the prescription drug OxyContin.
Devastated at the loss of her only child and in a state of despair, my sister took his pills and fatally overdosed.
The shock we felt as family members was incredible, the heartache immense. The devastation that we feel as humans is real. At times, the human aspect of tragedy is lost to people. The reality is there are parents left grieving for their children. There are children left without a mother, or father, siblings without siblings. Entire families are left in mourning. This is the human side to the tragedies we face.
Social problems continue to affect First Nations communities. In the last six months, this community has lost many people to prescription drug overdoses. The Cochrane RCMP indicates that crystal meth, crack and cocaine are becoming prevalent. This is a serious problem.
It is a problem rooted in colonization and the destruction of First Nation’s identities. Mi’kmaq scholar Marie Battiste poignantly reminds us that for more than a century, First Nation’s children were socialized to be ashamed of who they were. Through an education system that positioned Western knowledge as superior to Indigenous knowledge, the Canadian government undermined Indigenous knowledge and identities.
The development of positive self-esteem was not possible in residential schools. Children were taught to believe that their ways were heathen; that spirituality was superstitious or evil. How can one expect any child to develop a healthy, positive outlook on life when that child’s self-esteem has been destroyed?
It is this destruction that now presents itself through social ills as generations try to recover.
The Stoney Nakoda Nation is faced with this social crisis at a time when funds are low. In the last several years, at least 100 Stoney employees have been terminated.
Ironically, it seems non-Stoney people are being hired on a regular basis. The Stoney Tribal Council would do well to rethink this approach and start representing the people. The reality is that unemployment is high. Some estimate it to be at 90 per cent in this community.
As it was in the residential school era, unemployment is contributing to increased social problems. A long-term plan based on a thorough need’s assessment might be beneficial.
Maybe it is time to turn to the people and especially to the youth. It is time to listen to what they have to say.
They are the future and leaders should be engaging them to help determine our collective path as a community.
