Total prohibition

“There has been an increase in the number of bootleggers in town over the past few years and it has had a really negative social impact on the youth and, in some cases, some younger children. Alcohol is so readily available right now, you can get it anywhere,” said Rupert.
The bylaw prohibits the possession, consumption, sale, transfer or exchange of alcoholic beverages with tougher penalties regarding the distribution of alcohol, particularly to minors.
Though a ban on alcohol has been in place in Chisasibi for many years, according to Rupert, Chisasibi residents could previously keep a small quantity within their homes. However, the new bylaw is a total ban prohibiting possession.
For a first contravention of the bylaw without aggravating circumstances the offense is liable for a $500 penalty. For a second offense or a first with aggravated circumstances, the penalty upon conviction is $1000 and a six-month prison term. For a third offense, the fine is $2000 and a six-month prison term and loss of any Cree Nation of Chisasibi-owned housing.
For those who engage in the sale, transfer or exchange of alcoholic beverages the fine is automatically $2000 and a six-month prison term for a first offense, the same and loss of housing for a second offense and a third or subsequent offense would also garner the fine, prison term, loss of housing and banishment from the community.
Within the context of the bylaw, police will have the right to search any “suspicious” vehicle entering the community without a warrant. This will also apply to non-residents and non-Natives who enter the community.
Though Rupert insisted that the banishment clause is really aimed at bootleggers that the community is well aware of, he said that it probably will not apply to those who are really suffering from alcoholism and are not distributing it. For those who are alcoholics, he said that services are already available to help them stop drinking.
At present, multiple offenses for bootlegging are the only clause that could see a community member banned. There are no other clauses to ban other individuals whether they are convicted of other crimes.
Louise Dessertine, a psychologist and therapist who works within the communities through the Health Board, believes that the new bylaw is positive in the sense that it acknowledges the substance-abuse problems within the community. She said it could also cause a false sense of security.
“You can take away the alcohol but as long as you don’t address the system, the addictions, the need for addictions and the disharmony, you are just going to substitute it with something else,” said Dessertine.
Though Rupert mentioned that there were resources for substance abusers within Chisasibi, he also said that social services are overwhelmed with the number of cases they have to deal with, which also concerns Dessertine.
“Alcoholism and addictions have to be dealt with systemically on all levels, but it is unfortunate that there is so little available. There are alcohol programs and every community has a mobile unit. But there is no team approach to addiction. I find that when you are doing addictions work, the best way to do it is to do it as a team,” said Dessertine.
At present, one individual, the NDAP worker, is usually responsible for all addictions counseling and programs in each community.
Due to the nature of addiction as a disease, according to Dessertine, sobriety is not something that can be enforced on an addict, but it is something that addicts must come to on their own.
“Taking the alcohol away will often make alcoholics cleverer about seeking it. It will also make them leave the community more often in order to bring it back if they can. And, leaving the community to go to places like Val-d’Or for example to get wasted for a week causes a whole series of other problems,” said Dessertine.
While Dessertine acknowledges that the abuse of drugs and alcohol is rampant in the Cree communities, what she would like to see is more support for those suffering from addictions such as a multidisciplinary addictions team available for those who need it.
“I think that for me the hardest thing (with the bylaw) is that it gives people the impression that the alcoholism is going to be reduced and I really don’t feel that,” said Dessertine.