Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
August 03, 2023 - 11:30 AM
Drug dealers aren't welcome on the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc reserve.
Chief and council issued a statement yesterday that they will banish anyone caught selling illicit drugs from its lands, announcing it will be working with the Tk'emlups Rural RCMP to identify and remove them.
The news release was published to its website Aug. 2, but it appears the document was signed June 18.
While the Band is taking a strong stance to keep dealers off its land, chief and council's "highest priority" is to ensure the health and safety of the community, according to the news release.
"We continue to be committed to exploring every avenue possible to address the opioid crisis in our community," it reads.
It comes as the province continues to grapple with record breaking overdose deaths, largely due to toxic opioids. Some municipalities have sought to ban public drug use in the wake of the province's decision to decriminalize possession, but cities haven't sought to banish dealers through their own bylaws, and it's not clear they even could.
Interior Health has chastised those municipalities for their efforts. The health authority was not immediately available for comment.
"Anyone caught dealing drugs on Band lands will be immediately banished from reserve. As well, anyone caught selling drugs out of Band owned homes will be evicted, as per the Housing Policy section and the Housing Rental Agreement," the news release reads.
It's not clear whether the Band passed a bylaw to banish dealers. It appears that the decision would affect non-members living in the Sun Rivers area, for example. It could also apply to people not living on reserve, but travelled onto Band land to make a deal.
It's also not clear whether a dealer must be criminally charged or convicted before the Band makes its decision.
Kukpi7 (chief) Rosanne Casimir did not immediately respond to a phone call from iNFOnews.ca.
Kamloops RCMP did not immediately respond to questions about its role in the eviction or banishment process.
"We urge you to join us in taking action," the Band said in a news release, asking people who see suspicious activity to contact police.
It also says members struggling with addiction should contact its support lines.
The Community Services team member Rachel Kilback, Mental Health and Addictions Navigator, can be reached at 250-320-4327 and Jay Roque, Wellness Coordinator, at 250-571-3512.
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