Tommy Lafferty says he's well aware of the toll that drug and alcohol addiction is taking on Behchoko.
There is a "pandemic" of overdoses in the Tlicho community of about 2,000 people, he contends, and many of them are not reported as such. He believes similar problems exist in many other small NWT communities.
"We hear about overdose cases every week," he said. "Some are not being diagnosed accordingly or the public isn't given accurate information, but people and our families talk. We know what's going on and it's terrible."
Lafferty, 45, believes the problem could be curbed substantially by the creation of an "Indigenous multi-treatment centre" somewhere in the territory, which would not only help people deal with drug and alcohol addiction, "but all the traumas as well."
In fact, the creation of such a facility is the top item on his 2025 wish list for his community.
"Too much of the federal, territorial and Tlicho government funds" are being used to send Indigenous people to treatment centres in the south, he said, and "people are coming back to little to no after-care or supports."
"Our people are thriving in the programs, but when they get home they face many of the same issues: unemployment, housing [challenges], food security," he added. "If the GNWT really wanted to help our people SA国际影视传媒� all people in the North SA国际影视传媒� this [centre] would be a priority mandate.
"We have many Indigenous people that have gone through all these issues and have tried to start their own programs and have brought up the idea of treatment facilities. Some have the [resources] to accomplish this goal, but are being turned down because they are private and not government-operated. Too many times we let the GNWT stop us from succeeding, thinking that we need their approval."
Lafferty would also like to see the NWT's laws change to make it easier to identify and charge the drug dealers who have crept into many of its communities.
"Communities need the ability to pass laws to be able to ban or expel these drug dealers," he said. "Many folks are being [exploited] for their homes, but without actual evidence, the can't do anything. This is a huge issue as many people are scared to talk and act. There are some that have been open and are coming out [about the situation], but hearsay is circumstantial and the law cannot act on that.
"The ability to pass these laws in an expedient manner is vital," he added. "Fighting drugs is and should be top priority as it's our biggest killer of people and our communities in the North. More and more smaller communities are speaking about the influx of hard drugs. The governments need to start listening as a whole. We don't need committees to look into this, we need laws to enable us to rid the problem and move forward with healing."
To the west, in Fort Simpson, Kali Norn has her own hopes for her community, which is home to about 1,100 people.
"I hope for continuous generosity throughout Fort Simpson," she said. "I hope for the strength of the community, and the ability to provide opportunities for various age groups."
Norn, 25, believes the key to providing opportunities for people of all ages in her community comes down to "observing everybody's positive contributions to each other."
"I know [the generosity of the community] will only continue to grow," she said.
Former Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya, currently based in Yellowknife, had similar wishes for his home community and the wider territory.
"My biggest wish or hope is that people have good health and have the courage and determination to make the changes they need to do for a better life, [and] for the community would be to stay safe, help when needed and visit each other," he said.
He also pointed to the drug problem in the territory, noting that "communities have the strength" to take action against the problem.
Wishing for on-site services
In Aklavik, Moose Kerr School principal Janine Johnson is wishing for professionals to "come to the community to help our young people and adults get things like bank cards, credit cards, social insurance numbers, birth certificates, passports."
"All those things require travel to a larger centre and many people donSA国际影视传媒檛 have access to that," Johnson explained. "If a bank representative or a Service Canada representative would come to our community and do things en masse, it would be awesome. I also wish our community had access to mental health resources at the community level. Doing things virtually and having to travel doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 always work for people, and we need people at the community level."
Michele Tomasino, vice-principal at Tuktoyaktuk's Mangilaluk School, is hoping for the completion of school renovations in 2025, as well as the addition of other businesses and facilities in the community.
"I wish for the school renovation to be done in 2025 so that we can finally see our new school done after five years of waiting," she said. "And I always say that if I won a lottery, I would build a big recreation centre with a pool so that kids could learn how to swim and have racquetball and tennis courts with more activities for kids, youth and adults to stay fit and healthy.
"I also wish for a coffee shop so people could have a place to chill and eat and have a coffee with friends. This would also help tourists, as would a hotel by the ocean."
Marc Whitford, president of the North Slave Metis Alliance (NSMA), is hoping that 2025 will be the year that "Canada, fully supported by the GNWT" will "honour and accept our longstanding request for a land claim and reconciliation process."
That is the top item on his wish list for the coming year.
"Having that process started for the North Slave Metis Alliance and Canada and the NWT will finally end the years of irreparable harm being done to our Section 35 Metis people by the Crown, and allow NSMA to truly join our Indigenous family," he said. "I am very much hopeful this can be started in 2025, and I have proposed some solutions and pathways to Canada that can open the door to reconciliation between our Metis people and Canada and the GNWT this coming year.
"Our people have consistently put our hand out to Canada and the GNWT in attempts to reconcile and build a new tomorrow for all, only to be met with stony silence or worthless platitudes at best," Whitford added. "I know we can all do better and I hope 2025 will enable this to come about for our people, our great territory, and our great country, Canada."
