LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Premier Bob McLeod, at a meeting last week in Fort Simpson, was urged to do more in the region to address mental health and those at risk in the wake of several recent deaths.

Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu, left, Premier Bob McLeod, centre, and Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche listen to comments during a constituency meeting on Dec. 9 in Fort Simpson. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

After four deaths in the past few months, Rita Cazon and John Dempsey told the premier at a public meeting Dec. 9 that the region is reeling and needs support.

"This community is going through a lot right now," she said about how the personal tragedies have touched many families.

She recounted how someone she knows who is chronically depressed was told there wouldn't be any counsellors in the village until after the holidays.

The person was told to call a help line if they needed assistance, she said.

"What the hell good is that going to do?" Cazon said through tears, adding that there are others in the community in a similar situation. "Do you want more deaths to happen? We're not supposed to be burying our kids."

She said the issue isn't limited to Fort Simpson and that there are serious issues as well in Wrigley.

It was in that community where Destiny Nahanni-Hope, 20, was found dead Dec. 5. Police are still investigating what happened.

Recent tragedy

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation Chief Tim Lennie told News/North last week the woman, who was raised in Fort Simpson but recently lived in Wrigley, was found at the bottom of an embankment beside the Mackenzie River.

"I have no idea how she got there, it appears she may have slipped," Lennie said.

He said it was very cold in the community on Dec. 3, the night she was believed to have gone missing.

The federal and territorial governments need to take responsibility for the fact that there are few places for young people in the community to turn to in terms of counselling and support, Lennie said.

"There was more in the way of social programs and counsellors when I was younger," he said. "Our community is in complete shock. This is the worst thing that could have happened, especially this close to the holidays."

Lennie acknowledged there is more drinking in the community around the holidays and this is not the first tragedy or near-tragedy in Wrigley at this time of year.

McLeod told Cazon that a counselling team was sent to Wrigley after Nahanni-Hope's death.

Store manager advocates for late employee

Cazon said there's only one person in Fort Simpson who has been taking concrete steps to help grieving residents - John Dempsey, manager of the Northern Store.

Dempsey said at the meeting that Nahanni-Hope had worked at the store for a while and described her death "as a waste and a real shame."

He said while he's only lived here for a few years, what happened to Nahanni-Hope made him angry.

"She needed help that she wasn't getting," he told the premier.

Because staff members were impacted by the death, he reached out to his bosses, who authorized bringing in a crisis counsellor.

He said the counselling service was offered in-person to staff members on Monday and to members of the village the following day.

Dempsey said it was the right thing to do to help staff and neighbours.

"For me, I see everyone in this town once a day and it's very evident" that they were hit hard by what happened, he said.

Dempsey asked McLeod what the government

would do to help those at risk in the community.

McLeod said he's concerned about what happened and touted a mental health and addictions strategy the GNWT is working on.

As part of that, he said the GNWT needs to find ways to do early intervention to those considered at risk.

"As a government, we're paying a lot of attention to it," McLeod said about the issue.

The idea of having a addictions treatment centre in the territory was raised, so people don't have to go south.

The premier said when one was open with space for 40, it was only seeing around 15 people.

Joe Daley said when people go away for treatment, they come back energized and with renewed hope.

But the social conditions they return to haven't changed, and he sees people fall back into old patterns.

He said there needs to be more local support for addictions treatment.

The pleas for the government to take more action came during the constituency tour by Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, who was joined by the premier and Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu.

A planned stop in Wrigley was cancelled following Nahanni-Hope's death.

- with files from John McFadden

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