(Clarence Papequash, 64, is charged with drug trafficking for the second time he;s been on The Key’s band council)
Melissa Ridgen
APTN Investigates
A man who was removed as chief of The Key First Nation following a six-month conditional sentence for drug trafficking is back in jail awaiting a bail hearing on new charges.
Clarence Papequash, 64, is now a band councillor. Prior to his political career, he worked as a drug councillor.
But in 2014 he was convicted in a sting in which RCMP were cracking down on dealers who fueled a wide-spread opiate problem in the Kamsack, SK area, as revealed by APTN Investigates
Papequash sold a morphine pill to an undercover officer.
Five months later his community voted him back onto council.
This past Tuesday, he was arrested again when police executed a search warrant at a home and allege they found guns and opiates.
Papequash faces five charges and remains in custody pending a court appearance Feb. 22.
The 2013 APTN Investigates report ultimately led to Health Canada pulling the methadone licence of a local doctor who both prescribed opiates and ran the clinic to treat addicts.
Cote, Keeseekoose and The Key First Nations were most affected by the opiate crisis.
What does he have to do before you stop voting him back on to a place of authority? Look at your children when they are stoned, as young as10, doesn’t that make you proud? Can’t wait to share with your friends how happy it makes you feel when she comes raped? NO you don’t. That’s exactly what you are doing when you allow the pusher sit on a place of authority. He should be voted to sit on the seat of SHAME! Stop letting him kill your children because you’re as guilty as he is if don’t help your children.
Why not name the doctor? In my mind he is at the core of the problem isn’t he. He has the power to write those prescriptions at his discretion so he ultimately should be the highest accountable authority in this grievous situation. But doctor knows best it seems no matter that he is the supplier to the dealers.
I hope he serves time this time. There too many drug traffickers on too many of our reserves
This is absolutely insane, where is our nations mind. A former drug counsellor. Omg, greed, money the root of all evil. Why??i hope u rot in jail. U killed our own. karma
what an embarassment for our 1st nation, could see it being 1st time but not 2nd in 3 yrs come on
it’s a situation back home. feel sorry for people.