LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Alcohol abuse fueled by residential school compensation payments is being blamed as a factor in a series of recent deaths in Fort Simpson.

Alcohol abuse fueled by residential school compensation money is being blamed for a number of recent deaths in Fort Simpson. - NNSL photo illustration

Four people died in the village between Dec. 20 and Jan. 17. According to the RCMP, three of the four deaths are related to alcohol.

The most recent death was on Jan. 17. Ernest Michel, 57, was found frozen to death near the walking trails beside the Papal site.

"He died of exposure," said Sgt. Cliff McKay.

Michel had been drinking on Wednesday night at his sister's house and was found the next day. He walked in the opposite direction of his home.

The first victim was Andrew Tsetso, 57, who was found outside suffering from exposure and died on Dec. 20. He had been drinking prior to his death, said McKay.

On Jan. 14 Freda Deneyoua, 44, was found dead in a residence. She was drinking the night before she died, said McKay. Results from a toxicology report are pending, but an autopsy found indications of prolonged use of alcohol, he said.

A fourth resident, Jane McPherson, 73, was not drinking at the time of her death, said McKay. Although McPherson was known to drink it was her poor health that led to her death, said McKay. McPherson died on Dec. 27.

The series of deaths has alarmed the local First Nation.

On Jan. 18 a lunch hour emergency meeting with an RCMP representative was held by Liidlii Kue First Nation to discuss the number of recent deaths.

"We felt we needed to do something," said Chief Keyna Norwegian.

"We're very concerned about what's going on," said Norwegian.

The council believes that all four recent deaths can be blamed on alcohol abuse that is being financed by residential school payments.

"We feel it's a big contributing factor to what's happening to our people," said Norwegian.

Norwegian said she's personally aware that there were parties involving alcohol held at Jane McPherson's house in the two weeks leading up to her death.

"I believe they all had issues dealing with alcohol," she said.

The council isn't certain if all four victims had received residential school compensation, said Norwegian. Even if people around them had received payments it would have affected them indirectly, she said.

As a result of the emergency meeting the band council has decided to start a citizen patrol group. The group cannot be established immediately because volunteers will need to receive training and have their role defined, said Norwegian.

To provide support in the short term two band members patrolled the village over the weekend looking for anyone who needed help. The council plans to have another two members on patrol this weekend, said Norwegian. These volunteers watch for people in distress and will inform the RCMP of their location.

The council is also working with the RCMP to crack down on bootleggers who are providing alcohol in the community.

"Everybody knows who the bootleggers are," she said.

Family and friends are being encouraged to talk to the people who are bootlegging and discourage them from selling in the community, said Norwegian.

Norwegian said she'd like to see an alcohol ban in the community but believes it would only cause new problems. People who are addicted to alcohol would resort to drinking solvents or other products, she said.

Even having further restrictions on alcohol wouldn't work, said Norwegian, because people would drive to other communities and buy supplies.

The band council expected to see an increase in alcohol abuse once the payments arrived, said Norwegian.

A few years ago the council asked the territorial government to provide more social programming to prepare band members for the money but it didn't happen, she said. People at high risk could have benefited from a workshop that explained possible options to manage large quantities of money, said Norwegian.

"For some of these people having $100 is a lot of money," she said.

Norwegian is quick to point out that many other band members have made positive choices with their payments. People have bought snowmobiles, trucks, made down payments on houses and purchased other large items, she said.

Norwegian hopes that the deaths have served as a warning.

"I hope with the four deaths that a lot of our people kind of scared themselves sober," she said.

She's also encouraging band members to come forward if they need assistance.

"We'll definitely do what we can to help them," Norwegian said.