Yellowknife and Sahtu Receive $1.6M for Drug Crisis Relief
The Government of Canada is investing over $1.6 million to assist Yellowknife and the Sahtu region in addressing their drug crisis. This funding aims to enhance outreach and harm reduction initiatives in the Northwest Territories.
Funding Allocation Details
The federal investment stems from the Emergency Treatment Fund, distinct from the standard federal budget. The distribution of funds includes:
- Over $900,000 for Yellowknife’s Enhanced Street Outreach Program.
- The remaining funds allocated to the Sahtu Harm Reduction and Support Program.
Yellowknife’s Enhanced Street Outreach Program
Home Base Yellowknife manages the Enhanced Street Outreach Program. This initiative focuses on delivering harm reduction supplies and offering essential support in the areas of:
- Housing assistance
- Health services
- Social support networks
Mayor Ben Hendriksen emphasized the positive impact these funds will have on the community’s efforts to tackle substance abuse. City manager Stephen Van Dine noted that specific implementations of the funds are still being evaluated to determine their optimal use.
Sahtu Harm Reduction and Support Program
Meanwhile, the Sahtu Harm Reduction and Support Program aims to improve overdose prevention and provide culturally-sensitive education to enhance community capabilities. Joseph Kochon, representing the Sahtu Secretariat Inc., highlighted the swift impact of the drug crisis on local youth.
According to Kochon, the community’s youth are facing unprecedented challenges. He remarked that traditional activities, like wood harvesting, have diminished significantly.
Community Challenges and Determination
Kochon also expressed concerns over the inadequacy of police resources in small communities, which complicates their response to the crisis. Despite these hardships, he affirmed the community’s determination to confront the issue head-on. “We want to stop burying our young people,” he declared.
The funding for Yellowknife and the Sahtu region represents a crucial step towards empowering local communities in their fight against the ongoing drug crisis.
