A tragic death in Alderville spurred a recent debate at a band council meeting to address the problem of illegal drugs in the community.
The show (full interview):
International Overdose Awareness Day was last week. A tragic death caused by a drug overdose took place in Alderville recently. It was a reminder that no community is immune.
First Nations people are seven times more likely to die of a drug overdose as compared to non-First Nations people, according to a recent study done by the Chiefs of Ontario. It is an organization representing 133 First Nations in the province.
In this interview, Alderville Chief Taynar Simpson joins me to discuss the opioid crisis in his community. Similar to places across Ontario, he is facing issues related to opioids, overdoses, and related deaths.
Simpson said the band council met to discuss the problem at its last meeting. You will learn how it responded to the most recent death and its plans.
There is a related story from March 2023. It is also about illegal drugs in Alderville. Back then, the former band council took a different approach by evicting a person from the community.
Originally aired: September 6, 2024
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