Fort Providence (Aug 15/03) - Agnes Silverthorn was deeply disturbed by what was happening around her during the Mackenzie Daze weekend.

She said she saw a girl, no older than eight years old, drunk and passed out in a ditch. Other youth, around 13-15 years old, were staggering around intoxicated, some with beer bottles in hand, she said. She and other residents broke up fights amongst some of the adolescents.

She took in one boy who had blisters on his feet from walking around day and night, scared to go home, she said.

"Parents were drunk all weekend and children were neglected... it's gone too far," Silverthorn warned. "If nothing is done I believe children are going to die."

She added that she never slept during the weekend due to the drunken antics, frequent yelling and loud music from nearby houses.

The problem is at its worst during Mackenzie Daze, but occurs every pay weekend and when old-age pensions arrive, according to Silverthorn, who was born and raised in Fort Providence.

"A lot of the (elders') cheques are taken away from them, and the people that gamble are controlling the pension money," Silverthorn alleged.

She said levels of government should fund parenting courses and ban bingos and other forms of gambling.

RCMP Const. Leigh Kukurudza said gambling in homes is a social issue, not a criminal one, so the police can't intervene.

As for public drunkenness, Kukurudza noted that there were more alcohol-relate files than usual during the weekend. She could not, however, verify the specific incidents Silverthorn described.

Issue on the agenda

Chief Berna Landry said the situation will be addressed at a band council meeting this week.

"I've heard not only from Agnes, but there are some concerned parents out there," said Landry. "It is a concern to me."

Maggie Levavasseur, mayor of Fort Providence, said she and her council will also be discussing the situation.

Levavasseur would offer no comment until then.