Nits’ilʔin of Xeni Gwet’in Roger William (right) listed three actions to address the toxic drug crisis in Tsilhqot’in communities. To his left are Sierra William, youth ambassador Dakota Diablo and Nits’ilʔin of Tl’esqox Francis Laceese.Screenshot from UN Web TV
Williams Lake Tribune Andie Mollins, Local Journalism Initiative April 25 2025
Tsilhqot’in leaders are calling on the provincial and federal governments to recognize and fund Indigenous-led essential services to help address local-impacts of the toxic drug crisis.
On Thursday, April 24, the executive director of the Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG), Jenny Philbrick, led a press conference bringing attention to the drug crisis which led the nation to declare a local state of emergency just over one year ago.
“The public detox is taking way too long for our people, and in the meantime, while they’re waiting, some of them aren’t surviving, some of them aren’t lasting,” said Philbrick.
She was joined by Nits’ilʔin-Qi (Chiefs) Francis Laceese and Roger William, as well as Tsilhqot’in youth Dakota Diablo and Sierra William, at the press conference which was held at the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples in New York.
“As Indigenous people we know what the issues are, we know what the solutions are,” she said. “We need partners to come to the table and help us bring our solutions to the table and move forward in a good way.”
British Columbia’s First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) says while harm reduction efforts are making a difference, the crisis continues to disproportionately affect Indigenous families and communities across the province.
In 2024, 3,400 First Nations people in B.C. experienced toxic drug poisoning events, and 427 First Nations people died as a result. This is 6.7 times higher than the rate of non-Indigenous people, despite First Nations making up only 3.4 per cent of B.C.’s population.
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“Death has been so normalized with our people. Smallpox, residential school, 60s scoop – this has all led to trauma and tragedy in our communities,” said Sierra William, a member of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation located about 200 kilometres west of Williams Lake.
William recalled that it has been 10 years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action have been made public, which include a call on the federal government to provide sustainable funding for Aboriginal healing centres.
“If the calls to action were to be realized, some of our people wouldn’t have a reason to turn to drugs.”
