Tsilhqot'in leaders are calling on the provincial and federal governments to recognize and fund Indigenous-led essential services to help address local-impacts of the toxic drug crisis.
On Thursday, April 24, the executive director of the Tsilhqot'in National Government (TNG), Jenny Philbrick, led a press conference bringing attention to the drug crisis which led the nation to declare a local state of emergency just over one year ago.
“The public detox is taking way too long for our people, and in the meantime, while they’re waiting, some of them aren’t surviving, some of them aren’t lasting,” said Philbrick.
She was joined by Nits'ilʔin-Qi (Chiefs) Francis Laceese and Roger William, as well as Tsilhqot’in youth Dakota Diablo and Sierra William, at the press conference which was held at the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples in New York.
“As Indigenous people we know what the issues are, we know what the solutions are,” she said. “We need partners to come to the table and help us bring our solutions to the table and move forward in a good way.”
British Columbia’s First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) says while harm reduction efforts are making a difference, the crisis continues to disproportionately affect Indigenous families and communities across the province.
In 2024, 3,400 First Nations people in B.C. experienced toxic drug poisoning events, and 427 First Nations people died as a result. This is 6.7 times higher than the rate of non-Indigenous people, despite First Nations making up only 3.4 per cent of B.C.’s population.
“Death has been so normalized with our people. Smallpox, residential school, 60s scoop – this has all led to trauma and tragedy in our communities,” said Sierra William, a member of Xeni Gwet'in First Nation located about 200 kilometres west of Williams Lake.
William recalled that it has been 10 years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action have been made public, which include a call on the federal government to provide sustainable funding for Aboriginal healing centres.
“If the calls to action were to be realized, some of our people wouldn’t have a reason to turn to drugs.”
Nits'ilʔin Laceese said the toxic drug crisis is comparable to the colonial tactics which have put First Nations lives at risk.
“We weren’t supposed to be here anymore; the drug crisis is a continuation of this threat to our survival...it’s no different to that era,” he said.
The Tsilhqot’in leaders said it’s important to fund and support Indigenous-led programs which align with a community’s values and ways of life.
“The public safety system in Canada continues to fail Indigenous peoples because it was never built for us,” said Tsilhqot’in youth ambassador Dakota Diablo. “How can our people seek help when structures meant to support our people has caused so much harm,” he said after explaining public services designed by governments often serve as a threat to their people rather than a form of protection.
“It’s going to take full jurisdiction,” said Laceese in an interview with Black Press Media. The Nits'ilʔin-Qi explained how the way forward is to build up their communities and services around the traditions, values and teachings which have guided their people for time immemorial. But to rebuild foundations fractured by assimilation, it’s going to take money and the right to use it.
“It’s about resources, about agreements, being able to protect what we have,” Nits'ilʔin William told Black Press.
During the conference, William broke it down to three actions the provincial and federal governments can do to address the crisis. First, to support First Nation communities by providing the resources they need to address the crisis in their own way. Equine therapy is one example of the services the Tsilhqot’in, as horse people, want to provide as a way to reconnect to their way of life. Second, William said their communities need to be supported in their ability to exercise their voices at tables which discuss access to services. Finally, he said the communities need housing.
“We know that when people are appropriately housed, they do not need treatment. The basic needs of our people must be met to stop our people from falling into using drugs.”
TNG is the governing body of six Tsilhqot'in communities located to the west of Williams Lake. The nation declared a state of emergency in April 2024 due to a spike in overdose deaths, calling on governments and agencies to work together and help the communities address the crisis.
With files from Monica Lamb-Yorski.
