First Nations across Canada are taking decisive action against drug dealers as they seek to address rising overdose rates. This approach contrasts sharply with government strategies that focus on harm reduction and lenient treatment for drug trafficking.

On September 3, the Ojibway community of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg in Ontario enacted an anti-drug-dealer law. This law empowers the Anishinabek Police Service to treat unauthorized visitors as trespassers. Deputy Chief Thurston Kwissiwa stated, "Unfortunately, there’s people coming into the community with these drugs that are taking advantage of our people."

In Saskatchewan, the Buffalo River Dene Nation announced plans to evict members from reserve housing due to drug-related activities. The community’s chief and council emphasized that they do not harbor hatred for those involved in drug offenses but must prioritize community safety. They noted, "We are now seeing much more dangerous substances, like meth and fentanyl, creeping into our region… these drugs are deadly. And we cannot afford to ignore the signs."

Meanwhile, the Kwakiutl First Nation on Vancouver Island is also considering evictions for members accused of drug trafficking. Hereditary Chief David Knox expressed frustration, saying, "We’re tired of watching our loved ones get killed from these toxic drugs."

This crackdown follows a significant incident in May on Haida Gwaii, where the family of an alleged drug trafficker and accused murderer had their home demolished. They were forced to leave the islands, with protests following them to the mainland. Conservative MP Ellis Ross remarked, "What really stood out to me was all the First Nations along Highway 16 standing in solidarity."

Banishment is not a new practice among Canadian First Nations, nor are strict community controls on drug trafficking. Some Indigenous communities, particularly in the North, have long enforced blanket bans on alcohol with the help of the RCMP. Recently, Mounties in the Northern Alberta community of Fox Lake apprehended a bootlegger attempting to smuggle in 124 bottles of illicit vodka.

These recent actions come as Indigenous communities express frustration with authorities for allowing drug traffickers to operate freely. This sentiment was echoed at a recent Assembly of First Nations gathering in Winnipeg, where a resolution was passed calling for legal reforms to address the fentanyl crisis. The resolution emphasized the need to prioritize life protection over the current criminal impunity that enables traffickers.

The overdose crisis is particularly severe among Indigenous populations. In British Columbia, the rate of fatal overdoses among Indigenous people is approximately seven times higher than the provincial average. In Alberta, overdose deaths have contributed to a significant decline in Indigenous life expectancy, which has dropped to 62.8 years in 2023 from a peak of 72.4 years in 2013. This is starkly lower than the current non-Indigenous life expectancy in Alberta, which stands at 81.8 years.

Canadian government health authorities have recognized that Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by illicit drugs. However, official strategies have largely overlooked the need to combat drug trafficking. The 2023 Canadian Drugs and Substance Strategy attributes high drug use among First Nations to "historical and intergenerational trauma, including the impact of colonization." While the report briefly mentions targeting organized drug crime, it also highlights the 2022 passage of Bill C-5, which eliminated mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug offenses.