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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A group of organizations in Fort Simpson are going back to the grassroots for inspiration for two upcoming themed weeks.

In recent years the general public has been losing interest in Family Violence Awareness Week, Oct. 5 to 11, and National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 16 to 22, said Pat Switzer, a community wellness worker with Deh Cho Health and Social Services.

"I've noticed a big change," said Switzer.

The level of participation in events organized during these two weeks has dropped, she said.

To bolster interest an informal planning committee wants community members to make suggestions about what events they'd like to see to mark the two weeks.

The committee is composed of representatives from Victim Services, the Justice Committee, the Deh Cho Friendship Centre, the Open Doors Society, the RCMP and Deh Cho Health and Social Services.

"The last few years people have said it's been getting a little stale," said Alex Campbell, the Victim Services co-ordinator for Liidlii Kue First Nation.

The planning committee hopes residents will submit ideas for new events and activities.

The committee is looking for events to raise the most awareness and have a lasting effect, said Campbell.

The goal isn't to solve addictions or family violence but to keep the two issues in the forefront, he said.

The committee has already gone to Bompas elementary school, Thomas Simpson school and Aurora College to ask students for ideas. Suggestions have included making a video or creating a collage of artwork by community members.

The committee is also looking for ideas from the general public.

Despite waning interest, possibly due to repetitive events, Campbell said the two weeks are still relevant.

Family Violence Awareness Week and NAAW bring awareness to issues often not talked about publicly, he said. Family violence and addictions are very personal problems that do exist in the village, said Campbell.

For Pat Switzer NAAW in particular is important because it raises awareness about addictions but also celebrates and supports those who are working towards an addiction free life, she said.

"I think it's important because it is an invitation to all people to work towards an addiction-free, healthy lifestyle and to encourage others to follow in those footsteps," Switzer said.

Addictions, particularly to alcohol, are a problem in the village, said Sgt. Cliff McKay of the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment.

"It's the root of all evil, that's what we see," said McKay.

Since the beginning of the year the detachment has worked on just more than 700 complaints. A total of 502 of those were related to alcohol abuse or had alcohol as a contributing factor.

Misuse of alcohol is involved in almost every type of offense ranging from break and enters to domestic disturbances, said McKay.

So far this year 12 people have been charged with impaired driving offences.

"For a community this size that's a lot, really," said McKay.

The RCMP see the negative effects that addictions have including family breakdowns, child neglect and sex related offences, he said.

"It's a big part of what we deal with," McKay said.

Problems with addictions in Fort Simpson, however, are no worse than what's found in other Northern communities, he said. Family violence also occurs in the village on occasion but it's not a large problem here, said McKay.