Opioid crisis prompts state of emergency in Treaty 6 First Nations

The Treaty 6 Confederacy declared a state of emergency Monday, calling on provincial and federal governments to move immediately and mobilize new funding to address the opioid crisis disproportionately affecting First Nations people.

Grand Chief Leonard Standingontheroad said a lack of harm reduction services has contributed to an increase in deaths due to opioid poisoning.

In a release issued Monday, Grand Chief Standingontheroad called on the federal government to “intervene and offer more effective, flexible and long-lasting support.”

“Families, friends, and loved ones are being lost to this devastating crisis,” he said. “If harm reduction isn’t available, our people will die.”

In Alberta over the past seven years, the difference in life-expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people has grown, leading to an 18-year gap in part because of drug poisonings. The rate of poisoning deaths is seven times higher among Indigenous people than non-Indigenous people.

In February, the federal government promised $2 billion, or $200 million annually, for the Indigenous Health Equity Fund as part of a 10-year health transfer agreement with the provinces. Indigenous Services Canada did not immediately answer questions regarding the Confederacy’s calls and the rollout of the money.

Alberta Mental Health and Addiction spokesman Hunter Baril said the province is not involved in the distribution of the federal initiative.

The state of emergency declaration comes days after the provincial government announced money for two new planned recovery communities in the Siksika Nation and Tsuut’ina Nation, with construction expected to begin in 2024.