CREE NATION OF MISTISSINI: CREE COMMUNITY ON THE BRINK OF CHAOS

On the eve of the Cree Nation of Mistissini’s elections for Chief and Council, I find it strange that more has not been said or brought out by the candidates on an issue that is impacting and will impact the community of Mistissini in a most terrifying way, both now and in the future.

That issue is substance abuse, better known to most of us as “drugs.”

We have all seen or heard of the horror stories that have come out of the “weekend parties” that occur every weekend in our community, beatings, knifings, suicide attempts, etc, etc…

We have all been horrified and well we should be, because this is our future, if we continue to turn a blind eye to our youth who are crying out for help.

With certain drugs you start behaving in unnatural ways, you hear voices that other people don’t hear, telling you to do unnatural acts to yourself and to others, you see little green monsters or little red devils which other people standing right beside you don’t.

You are totally oblivious to others who share your air space. I mean you walk right by people totally ignoring them, not caring or acknowledging their presence, totally no caring if they see of hear what you do or say while you are under the influence of these substances, cocaine or heaven forbid, heroin or morphine.

It is frightening to realize that it is our very young who are so vulnerable to these drugs and have such easy access to them. Have you ever wondered why there are so much fewer beer cans laying around the community after one of these “weekend parties”?

I for one wish the beer cans would come back. Maybe I’m picking a lesser of two evils. At least then when one’s had too much, he had no coordination, one passed out drunk and was no danger to

anyone. Don’t worry, I know what I’m talking about. I was there once too!!

And it is oh so easy to blame the old “Shaman,” “the conjurer,” for the recent happenings in our community. I, for one, don’t believe that.

A few years back the “med-deow” had a lot of influence and power over the people, but no more. Ever since Christianity came to Mistissini the “med-deow” has lost most of its influence and power. By blaming the “med-deow” we have hurt not only the individual accused of these practices, but also the family and relatives of the individuals, when all along its the abuse of these forbidden substances which is causing our community to hover on the brink of chaos.

When was the last time we as parents have checked into what our children are up to on those nights he/she does not come home? When was the last time we wanted to find out if he/she is “doing drugs”?

To me it’s frightening to realize that these people, these “pushers” who push drugs onour youth, do not give a care about how young these children are. Would you believe10, 11, 12 years old? Perhaps even younger? All they care about is buying $500 worth inChibougamau or elsewhere and coming back and reselling it to our youth for $1,500.The almighty dollar at work.

Parents, do you acre about your kids? As a grandfather, it’s scary to even think thatmy 9-10 year old grandchildren are nearing or at the age when they can be easily influencedby these “pushers.”

But it is a start reality of life. Life in Mistissini.

My question to the elected Chief and Council memebrs, with all due respect, is this. “What do you intend to do about this horrifying issue during your four-year mandate?” This issue that is wrecking the future leadership of this community?

We can pray and the Higher Power will hear, but God only helps thoise who want to help themselves first. If you destroy the youth, you destroy the community. This is the devil’s mandate. What is our mandate?

Yes, employment, the local economy, Cree values and all the other platforms are very important, but if we don’t ensure that there is a future generation to carry them on, what have we accomplished?

Let me tell you this. You want to be elected leaders of this community, but if we don’thave a community, what is there left to lead?