POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 57 As originally published Health Canada intends to work with national aboriginal organizations, provinces and territories to develop a suicide prevention strategy for young aboriginals. Chief McDonald said the number of suicides in his community is unacceptable but explainable. He and the others gathered at Mr. Marr’s home point to health and social problems tied to drug and alcohol addiction, few job prospects, sexual and physical abuse, and lack of education as some of the contribution as some of the contributing factors. The chief said residential schools started a cycle of abuse that has spanned generations. “People need to stop being afraid and ashamed,” he said. “Everyone’s suffering, the victims and the predators.” “The non-native population needs to know the truth of what’s happening on reserves.” Chief McDonald said the government has let aboriginal down by segregating them on reserves and then not properly looking after their well-being. “Our people need help and we have to admit that.” Ms. Landolt said the community can’t keep burying its kids. “It’s so sad that they can’t see tomorrow. It’s the pain. The weight is just beyond what they can handle.” Mr. Marr and Ms. Landolt don’t play the blame game, believing the community must get past that and work together to find solutions. And they don’t just mean Indian Brook residents, but Nova Scotians and Canadians as a whole. They often see media reports and public alarm over multiple suicides off reserve, but seldom see the same attention given to First Nations. “It’s not that we’re keeping it secret, but we’re a people of pride,” Ms. Landolt said. “But now we have to reach out.” Ms. Landolt’s ideas for solutions include long-term followup programs for people who take the eight-week drug and alcohol addiction program offered on the reserve. She also would like to see a community facility where young addicts at high risk of committing suicide could get help, instead of being sent to private facilities in the United States. Indian Brook RCMP Sgt. Darren Malcolm agreed suicide is a “huge issue” in Indian Brook, but one that he believes the community can address, with some help. “As of July, I would have been here 11 months and there’ve been five suicides in that time period,” Sgt. Malcolm said. “In a community of this size, with approximately 1,400 people (on reserve), just think of the effects it had.” Sgt. Malcolm, the detachment head, said highly addictive drugs such as crack cocaine are readily available and prescription drug abuse is “out of control” and an accepted norm among many people, including teens. “But, ultimately (an addiction) is a symptom of the real issues,” he said. “It’s difficult for me to say what those issues are, but generally speaking people become addicted to substances because they’re trying to suppress pain. “The community has to ask what is causing that pain and why are so many people turning to alcohol and drugs.” Sgt. Malcolm said it is ultimately up to the community to decide what kind of help it requires. Then it will need partners to help with the solutions. “The community won’t change overnight, but you can give them some hope and that will make a difference.” (...continued)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==