(File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Local Crisis

Red Pheasant implementing mandatory home visits, curfew for youth following multiple overdoses

Oct 3, 2023 | 1:14 PM

Leadership for Red Pheasant Cree Nation is putting its foot down when it comes to drug activity in the community.

This comes after seven members overdosed over a 24-hour span, although RCMP say none were fatal.

A state of local emergency has since been issued with Red Pheasant’s chief and council now deciding to conduct mandatory ‘healthy home visits.’

paNOW reached out to the First Nation on what exactly these visits will look like but have yet to receive a response.

Leadership is also setting up a security team that will work alongside RCMP and help vacate properties that are involved with drug-related activities.

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A 10 p.m. curfew is also being implemented for anyone under the age of 16.

Meanwhile, Battlefords RCMP are increasing patrols in the area.

“What we need from the community is any information related to the presence of illicit substances. This can be scary to contact police to report illegal activity, but with key information, we can specifically target where and how the drugs are entering the community,” said Inspector Jesse Gilbert, officer in charge of the Battlefords detachment.

Over the weekend, officers seized suspected drugs resembling opaque, rock-like candy. While it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s believed it was ‘flakka’ which in some cases can be a combination of heroin and meth or heroin and cocaine.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow