Fort Good Hope (May 16/05) - Banished! That is the fate of drug dealers and bootleggers in the community of Fort Good Hope.

After a meeting May 5 where chief and council decided to deal with unwanted and unhealthy activities in the community, three residents were approached and asked to leave.

"We want to send a really strong message that these activities won't be tolerated," said Janet Grandjambe, victims services coordinator.

"The community is really worried about crack cocaine coming to our streets."

One dealer rumoured to be giving away crack to youngsters, another caught with one pound of marijuana and a suspected bootlegger have all agreed to leave the community.

"They know their actions are unacceptable and they were pretty good about it when we approached them," said Chief Ron Pierrot.

Although legally Canadian citizens can reside anywhere in the country, Pierrot explained that traditional laws can and will be used to protect the community.

Suspected criminals could be moved from their housing units or have their jobs taken away, the chief said.

"There are other ways to deal with it if they make it difficult," said Pierrot.

"There are means to make their lives miserable."

A plebiscite to limit or ban alcohol in the community will be held June 15 after a voluntary prohibition took place Jan. 2.

"Our community really struggles with alcohol and marijuana," said Grandjambe.

"So I think the majority of the people are in support of prohibition."

Year-long trial

If passed, the plebiscite would last for a year and the community could revisit further action after that time.

"It's important that this be done now because of development issues and to prevent some of the frequent alcohol-related accidents and vandalism in the community," said Pierrot.

Just recently, an intoxicated man drove his snowmobile into a building with his 10-year-old son riding on the back.

The child wasn't injured, but the father had to be medevaced to Edmonton.