Anishinawbe Blog

NIPISSING FIRST NATION (October 30, 2008) – The Anishinabek Nation is taking significant steps in eliminating illicit drug abuse, trafficking and associated organized crime in their 42 First Nations across Ontario.

Today, Grand Council Chief John Beaucage announced the framework for the War on Drugs strategy that was declared by the Anishinabek Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly last November.

“We will eliminate the drug problem on First Nations,” said Grand Council Chief John Beaucage. “Our leadership and communities are fully committed to the War on Drugs. This is another significant step in re-claiming our own jurisdiction and eliminating a difficult barrier to wellness, community healing and ultimately, our nationhood.”

Last fall, the Chiefs of the Anishinabek Nation communities unanimously passed a resolution giving First Nation councils the authority to rid their communities of drug dealers. Beaucage stated their First Nations are “prepared to be aggressive, to take extraordinary steps to rid our First Nations of drug abuse, trafficking and associated organized crime. Our Chiefs told their citizens they are willing to go to any lengths to make their communities safe – to use force if necessary”

The “War on Drugs” will encompass four pillars, based on a strategy developed by the City of Vancouver to combat drug problems in Canada’s most notorious area, the Downtown Eastside. Those pillars include the following:

Prevention

Promoting healthy families and communities, protecting child and youth development, preventing or delaying the start of substance use among young people. Promotion of the consequences of drug use, and the serious nature of the Anishinabek Nation ‘War on Drugs’. A specific focus will be on Youth, including the development of new youth-specific initiatives, including counselling, recreation, education and community support programs

Treatment

The Anishinabek Nation will advocate to improve access to services that will help citizens to come to terms with substance use and lead healthier lives. To establish more community treatment programs and facilities, as well as support successful, existing treatment programs and facilities. An important facet of this strategy is to establish First Nation-based outpatient and peer-based counseling and on-going medical care.

Ogitchidaawin: Protecting Our Own

Special focus will be on the promotion of a community-based model of ‘Ogitchidaawin: Protecting Our Own’, where citizens watch out and protect each other from illicit and suspicious activity. This will include the development of a website and call centre for Anishinabek citizens to report suspicious activity on-reserve, and anonymously report drug trafficking and related offences. The Anishinabek Nation will develop new customary laws to address who can come onto Anishinabek Nation Land including provisions to forcibly remove drug dealers.

Enforcement

The Anishinabek Nation and member First Nations will support the investigation, enforcement and prosecution of illicit drug activity, organized crime and gangs on-reserve, drug trafficking, drug houses, and the elimination of businesses and outsiders involved in the drug trade.

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A War on Drugs policy conference will take place February 16-17, 2009 at the Whitefish Lake First Nation near Sudbury, Ontario. At this conference, the Chiefs of the Anishinabek Nation, as well as enforcement services and community health providers will come together to discuss the framework and develop comprehensive strategies and customary laws to eliminate the drug problem on First Nations.

Partners on the War on Drugs will include the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police, Anishinabek Police Service, as well as community and tribal police services.

The Anishinabek Nation incorporated the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 42 member First Nations across Ontario. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

By Bob Goulais
Anishinabek Nation Political Office

· Grand Council Chief John Beaucage gave his speech to the BC Treaty Commission conference last night in Vancouver. The theme of the speech was Forging Linkages and Finding Solutions. “We must use the treaty relationship we already have with the Crown to give us the access and involvement in the greater resource-based economy. Unfortunately, the treaty relationship that exists has a lot to be desired. We must spend time to re-define the treaty relationship between First Nations and the Crown in Ontario. We must assert our goals and priorities. And we must also spend time to develop and foster a positive economic and investment environment within our Nation and throughout our territory. These are indeed our top priorities.”

· Development has begun on the facilitation plan for the Strategic Communications Council retreat that will take place December 17. The Leadership Council asked the UOI to develop the Strategic Communications Council. a.k.a “The War Room” an initiative proposed by Chief Patrick Madahbee. A smaller group of our leadership and executive would come together, identify some high-level priorities, identify some key messaging for our organization and their fellow Chiefs, and give some direction on communications/public relations initiatives. This would be the upper-echelon of our political communications that would set the tone in our messaging of our organization to government and the general public.

· A fall lobbying session is being planned for Queens Park to support the War on Drugs and Treaty Implementation. Our main focus will be on meeting The Hon. Margaret Best, Minister of Health Promotions to support the War on Drugs, as well as youth sports, the possibility of a new Ontario Sports Circle. Possibilities for all of this are looking really good.

· Some lobbying will be taking place at Parliament Hill, November 6-7, starting with the Official Opposition (national caucus chair) and beginning the daunting task of establishing relationships with the new NDP MPs from Northern Ontario. We will be discussing comprehensive self-government.

· Today, we sent out a news release supporting the War on Drugs. The framework of the strategies will be based on a strategy developed by the City of Vancouver to combat drug problems in Canada’s most notorious area, the Downtown Eastside. A consultant has been hired to coordinate the strategy and conduct the War on Drugs policy conference that has been set for February 16-17, 2009 in Whitefish Lake. The next War on Drugs steering committee meeting will take place on November 17. We’re hoping the Chiefs will be pleased with our progress thus far.

· This week, I spoke about Grand Council Chief’s next speaking engagement with the director of the First Nations Market Housing Fund. He will be the keynote speaker at the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association in Quebec City on November 18.

· Provided some insight into our Pre-Budget Submission process to the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians. They will be making a statement on the Ontario Economic Statement in London. We are happy to work together to assist our fellow PTOs.

The political digest is a new column, based on Bob Goulais’ blog at www.bobgoulais.com. He regularly documents is role and duties as Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the Grand Council Chief.