Northern Manitoba First Nation declares state of emergency after multiple stabbings
Posted August 17, 2024 5:20 pm.
Last Updated August 17, 2024 5:34 pm.
A northern Manitoba First Nation declared a state of emergency on Saturday, a day after “a number of stabbing incidents” in the community.
The state of emergency for O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation was declared after a community-wide lockdown was imposed overnight.
The number and condition of the victims was not immediately known.
Chief Shirley Ducharme and the Cree Nation’s council have reached out to RCMP, Indigenous Services Canada and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) for support from crisis intervention and mental-health teams, the MKO said in a news release.
“The violence has gotten out of hand, including the drugs and alcohol abuse that ultimately leads to the violence we are experiencing,” Chief Ducharme said. “We must call a state of emergency for the good of the community and for the safety of our residents.”
The First Nation says it will impose a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for minors, and from midnight to 6 a.m. for adults ever day “for the next few weeks.”
O-Pipon-Na-Piwin says the goal is to stabilize the community “after several violent activities that have occurred this year.”
“A community check-stop is also being planned that will search for drugs, alcohol and potential weapons while the curfew is in effect,” the MKO said in a news release.
“Acts of violence as a result of the escalation of drugs and alcohol in our First Nations has been rampant in all northern First Nations,” MKO acting Grand Chief Angela Levasseur added.
O-Pipon-Na-Piwin, also known as South Indian Lake, is more than 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
