Concerned citizens in Fort Providence have sent a clear message to anybody seeking to sell illicit drugs in their community.

SA国际影视传媒淵our way of living is our way of suffering.SA国际影视传媒�

Those words are emblazoned across a new mural on display at the old boat house, where it can easily be seen by people entering the community. The project was completed on Nov. 25 SA国际影视传媒� the last day of National Addictions Awareness Week SA国际影视传媒� and installed by local police officers the following day.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e connected to Yellowknife by road, and close to Hay River, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e affected by [the drug trade] weekly,SA国际影视传媒� said Fort Providence M茅tis Council victim services coordinator Miranda Elleze, who spearheaded the initiative. SA国际影视传媒淚t does affect everyone in our community, and myself included.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e seen similar billboards shared on social media, which gave me the idea,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e taken the initiative to speak up for our community in art.SA国际影视传媒�

The mural was painted by Elleze and several other members of the community, including a few local youth who she said SA国际影视传媒渁re trying to get on the right path.SA国际影视传媒�

Local artist Cynthia Landry designed the imagery.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was really a group effort in making this mural happen,SA国际影视传媒� Landry said of the project. SA国际影视传媒淚 always say that I let my art speak for itself, and I think this project spoke louder on a subject that needed to be addressed.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just glad to have been part of it.SA国际影视传媒�

Elleze wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 initially sure what kind of response the mural would get, but said she has noticed plenty of uplifting words on social media.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have seen positive feedback from the community online, and a few in-person,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t seems to be a positive trend online right now.

SA国际影视传媒淭he mural seems to have a positive impact on other communities in the North that want to take their community back,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

While Fort ProvidenceSA国际影视传媒檚 new mural is directed at current drug dealers, Elleze hopes that it will also help deter local young people from getting involved in the drug trade.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 trying to encourage our youth and the next generation that this fast lifestyle is not safe, and it creates harm in the community,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

There has only been one drug-related arrest that led to charges in Fort Providence this year, according to spokesperson Cpl. Matt Halstead. There were none last year.

However, Halstead said there have been recent drug arrests in Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Resolution and Fort Simpson, and noted that SA国际影视传媒渄rug trafficking issues in the South Slave are all interconnected.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hese arrests have an impact in reducing the availability of toxic drugs in all of the communities, including Fort Providence,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he Fort Providence () detachment has contributed to these other investigations through intelligence gathering and providing officers to support enforcement action.

SA国际影视传媒淭he community of Fort Providence has expressed concerns about people in the community struggling with addiction and wanted to do something impactful to make a statement,SA国际影视传媒� Halstead added. SA国际影视传媒淭he were proud to support this initiative and happy to have the mural mounted on the old boat house.SA国际影视传媒�