The seven First Nations that make up the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council have declared a state of emergency due to a drug crisis that is driving an increasing crime rate.
Chiefs from the Birdtail Sioux, Dakota Tipi, Long Plain, Roseau River Anishinabe, Sandy Bay Ojibwaym Swan Lake, and Waywayseecappo First Nations made the declaration to raise awareness about the rise in drug abuse among their communities, including the use of opioids, crack cocaine and methamphetamine.
The First Nations’ chiefs said the crisis has led to high crime rates, health issues, and an increase in suicides -- the latter also an issue on Northern Ontario’s Wapekeka First this year, prompting the community to declare its own state of emergency in June.
Though drug abuse has been an ongoing issue for years, Dakota Ojibway community leaders said it’s only getting worse. Today, it impacts children and newborns.
"In the last year in my community, 60 per cent of our children born were put on morphine after birth because of the addictions of the mothers," Ken Chalmers, chairperson of the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, told CTV Winnipeg.