By David Wiwchar

Nuu-chah-nulth declare state of emergency

Sep 20, 2024 | 8:58 AM

Nuu-chah-nulth Nations have declared a state of emergency in dealing with the toxic drug crisis

Leaders from Ahousaht, Tseshaht, Hupacasath, Ucluelet and Nuchatlaht say too many young people are dying.

Tseshaht Chief Councillor Wawmeesh Ken Watts displayed the pictures of people in his community who have died of overdoses over the past few years, and spoke on the pain caused by their preventable deaths.

“Have you ever heard the cry of a mother?” he asked. “Have you ever heard the cry of a mother and a father who’ve lost their loved one? As leadership it feels like sometimes we’re not doing enough. It feels like society, it feels like governments and all of us are not doing enough. One is too many and we’re here to stand shoulder to shoulder to say that enough is enough, and now is the time for government and health authorities to act and support our communities.”

Nuu-chah-nulth leaders want a rehabilitation and detox centre in Port Alberni, Ahousaht, and other west coast communities and are demanding funding and support to develop local solutions to the opioid epidemic.

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Ahousaht’s elected chief councillor John Rampanen says increased resources for healing programs and detox beds are needed immediately, after multiple drug-related deaths, including two young men who died in unrelated incidents on Labour Day long weekend.

“Uu-na-pa-tlay – which means enough,” he said. “We can’t accept this any longer. The second rate citizenship of our people living within our own indigenous territories has gone on for too long. We need to see that pathway forward an we need the support of non-indigenous British Columbia and Canada to join us in that effort.”

Dozens of people from Ahousaht travelled to Port Alberni yesterday for a press conference – many of them holding pictures of young family members killed by toxic drugs.

(photo: Nuu-chah-nulth families gather around Ahousaht leaders Curtis Dick and John Rampanen and NTC President Judith Sayers at a press conference yesterday)