PBCN Chief confirms development of strategic plan to address challenges with gangs and drugs

While noting challenges related to gangs and addictions, Chief Bird also explained the community suffers from high unemployment and a lack of housing.

“We have a population of 12,300 members and only having 900 houses,” she said, citing one case where there’s 15 people living in the same house.

Following a murder that occurred in Pelican Narrows last Fall, the community has been on lockdown and a state of emergency. And during a similar police operation last December, several knives and machetes were seized, along with bear mace, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and a small amount of methamphetamine.

A photo of the items seized during last weekend’s police operation. (RCMP)

Following the mass stabbings at James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) in September, 2022, leadership in that community have found great success through security patrols. Chief Bird confirmed she has engaged in talks with JSCN Chief Wally Burns regarding a similar model in her own community, but added one of the disadvantages they have is a lack of proper cellphone coverage.

“If you were to travel from Pelican Narrows to Flin Flon, immediately after the bridge you’re cut off on your cellphone”, she said, and so for that reason part of the community’s plans for funding is a new cellphone tower.

The issues with poor communication were also described by PBCN Councillor Sarah Swan who explained that two weeks ago when there was a gunshot heard in the community and a rumor of an active shooter on the loose, they had no way to quickly alert the community.

“We’re not on Sask Alert, so there was no telephone message on our phones,” she said.

Swan explained leadership took it upon themselves to alert the various local agencies and alerted the community through posts on social media untill word came from RCMP the scene was clear.

RCMP North District Inspector Steve Bergerman was also a part of Tuesday’s media conference call and while acknowledging the success of the weekend’s operation, stressed the RCMP’s work in Pelican Narrows is not finished.

“Gangs, drugs and illegal weapons have no place in Pelican Narrows or any of our communities,” he said.

According to a statement on Tuesday from Indigenous Services Canada, they received a letter, dated October 19, 2023, from Chief Bird, notifying the department of the PBCN declaration of a State of Local Emergency due to violence and the need for community safety.

The letter included a proposal seeking fiscal resources to support the Nation in responding to urgent and emergency situations.

On February 7, 2024, Indigenous Services Canada provided one-time funding of $110,376.00 for 2023-2024 fiscal year to provide additional security resource supports to the Angelique Canada Health Centre in Pelican Narrows. This is in addition to the annual ongoing funding provided for security guard positions at all primary care centres in PBCN communities.

“ISC is working in partnership with PBCN Health Services to provide $231,000 this fiscal year for immediate security enhancements, such as additional fencing for health facilities and enhanced security systems. Previous to this, ISC has provided $100,091 for security system and safety enhancements at Angelique Canada Health Centre and other primary care centre sites,” the statement said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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by Nigel Maxwell

PBCN Chief confirms development of strategic plan to address challenges with gangs and drugs

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