The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) in northern Manitoba says it’s taking drastic measures to deal with the high rate of violence seen in the community including a recent drive-by-shooting that critically injured a young person.
According to a notice from the chief and council on Nov. 18, the measures that comes into effect on Dec. 2 are to help deal with a number of “non NCN Citizens” who have been coming into the community and “causing serious risks to the health and safety of NCN Citizens and other residents on NCN Lands.”
The notice said leaders in the community were “required to take action” because of issues related to drug and alcohol violence.
“NCN Citizens have clearly indicated that efforts must be made to combat violence in the community fueled by drugs, alcohol, gang activity and harbouring people banished from or adjacent to NCN Lands,” said the notice.
NCN, which is based in Nelson House, about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg and 80 kilometres west of Thompson, has an on-reserve population of about 5,700.
Gang violence, chemicals and other harmful substances including fentanyl are being smuggled into the community in bootlegged alcohol and drugs and harming members, the notice said.
According to the chief and council, a number of measures take effect on Dec. 2 that include having checkpoints at all entry points into the community where cars can be searched; asking for identification to ensure people are members of the community; asking why people are seeking entry into the community; denying access to anyone who is wearing gang colours or “other paraphernalia”, and carrying illegal drugs, alcohol or cannabis that “exceeds allowable limits.”
“All prohibitions on bootlegging or buying, selling and transporting illegal drugs as outlined in the Nisichawayasi Community Protection Law 2019, c. C-1 and federal or provincial legislation continue to apply during the State of Emergency, and anyone bootlegging, transporting, or selling illegal drugs will be evicted or banished from NCN Lands,” the notice said.
Once the state of emergency takes effect “commuters, all NCN employees or entities using company vehicles, and authorized visitors will not be allowed to transport any alcohol or cannabis onto NCN Lands; residents will only be allowed to transport alcohol or cannabis onto NCN Lands once each day between the hours of noon and 12:00 am; every resident transporting alcohol or cannabis onto NCN Lands, including each person in a vehicle must have a valid permit obtained from the Justice Department.”
Also, the community said “no person shall be allowed to bring bear mace, machetes, knives, or guns onto NCN Lands except as approved by Chief and Council or their authorized designate, and any person who causes harm or tries to cause harm to another person using bear mace, machetes, knives, guns or other weapons may be immediately evicted or banished from NCN Lands or other alternate measures will be taken.”
The band is also introducing a curfew that says any child under the age of 18 must remain at home from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and no visitors during those hours.
Parents or guardians may lose “regular benefits under any NCN programs” should the curfew not be followed. The chief and council say child and family services agency may be notified as well.
People released from jail and who are not subject to a banishment order “are not allowed to visit or reside on NCN Lands unless they receive authorization from the NCN Chief of Law Enforcement in consultation with the Director of Justice following a risk assessment and determination of appropriate conditions.”
The band is threatening banishment for harbouring people who are not allowed in the community or for those who participate in “gang activities, meetings or wear gang colours, clothing or other paraphernalia on NCN Lands.”
“If the gang activity, violence, harm to people or property in the community further escalates Chief and Council, in consultation with the NCN emergency measures team, will determine whether additional restrictions must go into effect to protect the health and safety NCN Citizens, other residents, authorized visitors and the community,” the notice said.
“The community shall be given written notice of such restrictions by notice posted on the NCN website, social media and through any other reasonable means.”
