Fort Good Hope (Dec 13/04) - A working group in Fort Good Hope is trying to arrange an outright ban on alcohol.

"We're not asking for a long time, just one year," said Dolly Pierrot, a community wellness worker and working group member.

The working group in Fort Good Hope wants to make sure the children of the community, like nine-year-old Jayda Jackson, have a happy and healthy place to grow up. - John Curran/NNSL photo

"The main reason is we want to reduce the devastating affect alcohol has on our community."

The other reasons for the move include protecting the silent victims of alcoholism -- the children -- as well as getting ready for the boom of potential prosperity coming with the pipeline.

"We want our leaders sober when they're negotiating benefits agreements," she said.

Supporters of the idea say prohibition would allow for a program blitz to help the community deal with a number of social problems.

A Returning to Spirit session for residential school victims has already been confirmed, she said.

In addition, there will be an Alcoholics Anonymous Round-up: a four- or five-day A.A. meeting drawing in people from the entire Sahtu.

At the mouth of the Ramparts, the natural beauty of the area and friendliness of the people are indisputable. Unfortunately, the ugly face of addiction often obscures so much, residents fear it's all the outside world can see.

"We're not the only ones facing these sorts of problems in the North," said RCMP Cpl. Donna Rorison, another member of the working group. "Across all of North America, in fact, as many as 90 per cent of the files police handle are alcohol-related in some way."

The working group -- which also includes Janet Grandjambe, Thomas Manuel, Tisha Manuel, Jeannie Shae, Sister Joan, Alphonsine McNeely and Florence Barnaby -- has made an effort to talk to every member of the community to get support for the ban.

Pierrot spent much of last Tuesday working her way through the phone book. When reached by News/North, she said about 30 of the people she spoke to were in favour of banning booze and only three were against.

Once the group has a consensus in the community it will take the matter to Chief Ron Pierrot and the council, which will make an official decision on any ban.

Not all of the residents are convinced prohibition will be the magic bullet the community is looking for.

"There are just going to be a lot of frozen guys on the road," said Edward Gardebois, 67. "People are just going to take the winter road to Norman Wells and drink there instead."

Fort Good Hope bootleggers would also benefit from any ban, he added.

Rorison said the RCMP will be increasing efforts to block the flow of illegal alcohol to the community via the river, air and winter road if the ban is passed.

"It's coming in anyway right now," she said. 'With the ban, it would free up more time to concentrate on it."