Members of the Blood Tribe participated in anti-drug rally in January 2015. Photo from Blood Tribe Chief & Council / Facebook
The Blood Tribe of Alberta said it is banishing five non-members who are accused of dealing drugs on the reserve. The tribal council passed two resolutions identifying the five who are facing various drug charges in the province. The tribe promised to prosecute them for trespassing in the event any return to the reserve, a press release stated. The tribe declared an emergency earlier this year to combat the use of fentanyl, a powerful opioid also known as Oxy 80. In one six-month period, 20 people died and 60 overdosed from the drug. But the tribe has seen a decline in overdoses since dedicating more law enforcement resources to the problem. Anti-overdose kits also have been distributed on the reserve to prevent more deaths. Get the Story:
Five banished from Blood Reserve (The Lethbridge Herald 11/13)
Blood Tribe forbids five suspected drug dealers from returning to reserve (The Calgary Herald 11/13) An Opinion:
Hakique Virani: Alberta’s fentanyl response is tragic. The solution is simple (The Globe and Mail 11/13)
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