State of Emergency in Pikwakanagan

The Pikwakanagan First Nation seemed to be doing well - it has a good economy, high graduation rate, it has been revitalizing its culture, the books are tight. But things have gotten bad in the last five years. Pikwakanagan is not immune to the troubles infiltrating the towns surrounding it.

Late last year, Chief Greg Sarazin declared a State of Emergency over Opioids in the small rural community, just 150 kilometers from Ottawa. When a crisis hits a city like Belleville it makes headlines, but First Nations are not getting attention, or all the help they need to fight addiction. They are relying, in many ways, on their own devices.

There were at least five overdoses last year in a community with only 250 adults; that’s 1 in 50 people. Even more people must be using. But it's not just about those on reserve. When you count the cousins, the kids and the other family members living away, there have been dozens. What happened, and what is the community doing to try and stem the crisis.

Host: Karyn Pugliese

Credits: Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer)

Further reading:

• Pikwakanagan teen wins $50,000 prize for her community — Eganville Leader
• OPP investigating death at Pikwakanagan — Eganville Leader
• Saskatchewan First Nations sue Government of Canada over opioid epidemic — CTV News
• Treaty 6 Chiefs declare state of emergency over opioid deaths — APTN

Additional music by Audio Network

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