It appears that bootlegging in the community of Black Lake is becoming a major problem, that Chief Coreen Sayazie is calling for more re-enforcement’s to curb the activity.
She is asking for alcohol restrictions and the introduction of community safety patrols to aid RCMP in stemming bootlegging.
“What we need to bring into our community are maybe peace officers, like they do in Pelican Narrows. I’ve heard they have a good program there, where police can help with peacekeepers from our own First Nations people. That would be a program that could come in the future into our community to help implement Band bylaws,” Sayazie said.
Sayazie expressed frustration at the bootlegging situation to reporters in Regina Thursday, after meeting with several government ministers saying she is constantly getting calls from concerned citizens that enforcement of bylaws is not happening.
She says bootleggers are going to urban centers, buying alcohol in bulk and then selling it back to the community for up to triple the retail cost.
The suggestion of more community policing comes as Sayazie feels the enforcement from the RCMP detachment is lacking, claiming that Mounties refuse to arrest bootleggers and inebriates.
“You’re in the city, you call the police for an intoxicated person in their own home, they will be picked up. But when you’re on the reserve you call the police to get the individual to be picked up and the police will say oh they didn’t do anything, they live here. They say I’m sorry, we can’t do anything and they walkout,” explained Sayazie.
She alleges that police will not setup highway patrols to nab bootleggers before coming into the community, as she gets phone calls claiming that individuals are still carrying on that activity.
The plea for help comes as Sayazie says families and youth are negatively being affected by bootlegging.
“There’s a lot of affects in the communities from families and youth. Families are being torn apart by the devastating effects of alcohol and drugs, leaving many in our communities feeling powerless over the destruction on our youth, our young people and our families,” said Sayazie.
The RCMP was not immediately available for comment.
(PHOTO: Black Lake First Nation Chief Coreen Sayazie and Prince Albert Grand Council Vice Chief Joseph Tsannie at the Legislative Building Thursday. Credit: Dan Jones.)