INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 47 - No. 10—May 21, 2020 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Nations work to keep alcohol out of villages Kyuquot and Ahousaht block booze during coronavirus lockdown, but bo!les are smuggled in by airplane By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter West Coast Vancouver Island, BC – Leadership in remote Nuu-chah-nulth villages have managed so far to prevent coronavirus outbreaks, but some in the coastal communities worry that incidents of reckless partying behaviors may jeopardize their safety. Kyuquot is a particularly remote Nuuchah-nulth village, accessible only by boat or float plane. Like other island First Nations, they have blocked non-residents from entering. A post in Fair Harbour is manned 24/7 to ensure that no non-essential travelers come to the village. The guards are probably not terribly busy, since road travellers must first pass another manned gate at the Ehattesaht First Nation, next to Zeballos. The nations are turning away visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the deadly virus to their communities and, more importantly, to their precious elders, who are most vulnerable. In Kyuquot members are forbidden to travel in and out unless it is necessary. A resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the nation enforces their non-essential travel rule by imposing a fine of $1,000 for those defying the order. According to the source, because it’s so difficult to leave the village, people have found a way to bring alcohol in. People know alcohol is there when they hear the late-night parties. “There have been two fights so far and one person got taken out by the RCMP,” said the source, who went to state that the RCMP have been called in to deal with alcohol-related domestic violence. The source points out that when the authorities or first responders come in, it increases the risk of COVID-19 exposure. So how is the alcohol coming in with such stringent travel measures in place? “The members are ordering booze and it is delivered to the dock on our scheduled mail flights, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” said the source. On May 6, the witness stated they saw nine boxes of liquor, each carrying 12 – 18 bottles, arriving via Nootka Air. “Air Nootka has been made aware we are in a state of emergency and bringing alcohol in is not acceptable,” said the witness. The person alleges that it is probably a pilot that takes the orders for liquor and does the shopping. “It’s concerning because there were four house parties last night,” said the witness, adding that later in the evening they inevitably hear calls for help on the VHF radio. “I’m afraid; what if they are sick
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Wally Thomas, Chief Hohomiius, an Ahousaht Tribal Police officer, dumps out a confiscated bottle of vodka at the main dock in Ahousaht. (from COVID-19)?” members, and there is food distribuScott Carlsen of Nootka Air says that tion every two weeks in Kyuquot,” said his company provides delivery services Blackstone. to remote communities, including mail, Residents are given meats, vegetables, medical supplies, courier parcels and yes, rice, flour and pet food. care packages to Kyuquot. Local stores have increased stock of “I can’t deny some of the packages may items not provided by the nation. Blackhave contain alcohol,” said Carlsen. stone says it is expensive, but keeps But he is in a difficult position. people from needing to leave the village. “We want to provide a service to the “Early on we opened up food fishing so community but we can’t open up packthat our people can have fresh salmon, ages,” said Carlsen. halibut, and clams,” said Blackstone. He confirmed that Cynthia BlackIn Ahousaht, Hereditary Chief Hanuquii stone, chief administrative officer of (Nathan Charlie) has organized a tribal the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First police force that works to enforce a comNations, asked the airline to discontinue munity curfew and prevent non-essential deliveries of alcohol to Kyuquot. His staff visitors from coming in. They check has complied by stopping pick-up and returning residents for contraband. delivery of alcohol. According to Hanuquii, the idea of tribal The First Nation declared a state of police came because of the coronavirus. emergency March 22, which is in effect “Oldtimers and some parents wanted for two weeks. The state of emergency help with all of the booze coming in and has been extended three times with the the risk of having the virus coming in on next review date on May 22. bottles,” he added. To support members the nation issues In the past Ahousaht had a security monthly cheques and, for residents of force. The tribal police are similar and, Kyuquot, groceries are brought in. according to Hanuquii, have been depu“We provide emergency support for tized by the Ahousaht Ha’wiih, granting
Inside this issue... Tla-o-qui-aht deliver fish to Alert Bay........................Page 2 Friendship centres see growing demand for food.......Page 5 8 year old runs for cancer research.............................Page 8 Drug overdose deaths rise during pandemic..............Page 9 Study finds sea otters need better management........Page 11
the same powers as Witwok. Witwok are traditional police, a role that goes back before the time of contact. “In old times they would make sure everything is on order; if someone is not behaving they would be the ones doing the correcting,” said Hanuquii. “Today we are trying to keep the peace and keep the virus out,” he added. In order to protect residents Ahousaht has set a 10 p.m. curfew. “I announce it on VHF every night and everyone listens,” said Hanuquii. On April 31, following a cluster of COVID-19 cases in Alert Bay, Ahousaht instituted an alcohol ban on the reserve. “We shut the harbor down, funneling boat traffic to the main dock in Ahousaht,” said Hanuqui. Two people are stationed on every Ahousaht dock directing boats to the main dock. Once there, boats and bags are checked by the tribal police. If alcohol is found it is dumped, said Hanuquii. When asked if much alcohol was disposed of, Hanuqui replied, “Yes! Oh my, that first weekend we started that, we got three big garbage bags filled with vodka bottles and four flats of beer in two days.” Even though some are angry, the Ahousaht Ha’wiih are doing what they feel is necessary to protect the people. “It’s really important because there are 40 or 50 new babies on the reserve and our elders,” said Hanuquii. “(Coronavirus) spreads like wildfire, so we put this in effect so that we can protect the children and the elders.” As for complaints, Hanuquii says that about 98 per cent of the people are happy with the enforcement and maybe two per cent are angry. “And we expected that. It will blow over once this virus lifts.” He said that this a temporary measure. “And we will be better prepared if the second wave comes,” said Hanuquii. Blackstone says the idea of banning alcohol from the community during the pandemic is a complex issue. “There are all sorts of concerns and we worry about safe withdrawals; we want to come across with more of a focus on drinking responsibly,” she said. But she is concerned that by saying this, people may take it as permission from the leadership to drink. “We worry about how it affects people in our community, it’s not black and white at all,” said Blackstone. On the bright side, Nuu-chah-nulth communities have escaped COVID-19, so far. “We haven’t had any cases of it here and want to keep it that way,” said Blackstone. “If you take care of yourself you’re taking care of your community.”
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