A northern Manitoba community is stepping up restrictions and implementing new measures under a state of emergency to address a surge in violence that the chief says has been marked by gang activity, smuggling and illegal drug trafficking.

The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation was in a state of emergency for the violence from July 2023, when the council instituted several rules to curb illegal activities stemming from the sale and consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs.

But Chief Angela Levasseur said violence in the northern Manitoba community, located just over 660 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg, has not stopped more than a year after the state of emergency, forcing council to implement tighter restrictions on to target the type of incidents that affected safety.

“We are becoming very concerned about the escalation of violence,” Levasseur said. “A lot of people feel very insecure … they want us to address the violence.”

Sgt. Paul Manaigre said call volume at the Nelson House RCMP Detachment so far this fall has been “significantly down” compared to the summer, but officers have received two priority calls during that time frame, including the theft of fire and a visit behind the wheel. the October shooting believed to be gang-related.

Following the shooting, a 13-year-old boy was seriously injured after shots were fired into his home and bullets went through the walls in his bedroom, hitting him as he lay in bed.

“There have been a lot of very serious incidents, especially in the last two months,” Levasseur said. “That’s why we’ve introduced some new restrictions.”

Updated and new measures for the state of emergency to go into effect Dec. 2, and the chief said the focus will be primarily on alcohol consumption, community access and gang activity.

“We hope that with our new state of emergency, we will see a major reduction in the amount of community violence that we are currently experiencing,” the chief said.

Alcohol license restored

The state of emergency will reinstate the need for a permit to bring alcohol into the community, which has a population of about 3,500. Levasseur said the system was discontinued in 2022 after backlash from community members who claimed the permit requirement was a “very archaic and colonial” measure.

But since the license was lifted, the chief said, it had become “much easier” to bring large quantities of alcohol into the community, often exceeding the limits set by the community protection law.

“We have individuals who take advantage … they make multiple trips and take people with them, often exploiting people who are vulnerable, people who have addictions,” Levasseur said.

People bringing alcohol into the NCN will need a permit and receipt for the purchase next December. New permits will be issued at no cost to previous holders, but those who have previously violated the conditions of the permit will not be issued a new one unless the chief and board provide written authorization, the state of emergency bulletin said

Fines will be levied on anyone over the alcohol limit, while residents who engage in smuggling and transporting or selling illegal drugs could be evicted from the community.

Limiting access to NCN

Another new rule states that no person will be allowed to attend gang activities or meetings in the NCN, and the wearing of gang colors, clothing or paraphernalia will also be prohibited during the state of emergency.

“Some very dangerous and violent drug dealers have made their way into our community … they’re exploiting the addictions that our people have and they’re bringing with them a lot of guns and violence,” Levasseur said.

The new state of emergency will also tighten access to the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, regulating who can come and at what time.

NCN citizens and residents, as well as visitors authorized by the head of law enforcement, will be the only ones allowed access to the community, the bulletin states.

At entry checkpoints, a valid photo ID will be required, and the number of vehicle and property searches will be increased along with road access patrols, the bulletin said.

The community will also be closed between midnight and 6am, with no access to visitors and NCN citizens who do not live in the community during those hours.

“Hopefully, by making it more difficult to get in and out, we’ll reduce the amount of drugs in the community,” the chief said.

The state of emergency orders businesses to close by 11pm, while curfews for minors are increased from 8pm to 7am.

“A lot of young people are getting involved in violence … with stricter curfews, we’ll be able to make sure they’re home when they should be,” Levasseur said.

Brent Umas, an NCN resident who has lived in the northern Manitoba community since 1991, told the CBC he’s a little skeptical that these upcoming restrictions will help increase safety.

The measures brought in by last year’s state of emergency worked in the first months, he said, increasing safety, but soon after they were implemented, the string of violent incidents returned to the community.

“Everybody got used to it,” he said.

Umas said it’s important the council works to be consistent with enforcing the changes, particularly around alcohol and community patrols.

“You wouldn’t want to walk alone at night just yet, that’s for sure,” he said. “It’s very concerning.”

Meanwhile, the chief said the restrictions go into effect at the end of December to give people enough notice to familiarize themselves with the changes and get permits.

“These are not decisions I’ve taken lightly,” Levasseur said.

“We hope these changes will result in a more peaceful community … more importantly, a peaceful holiday season for our seniors, children and our entire community.”