Behchoko councillor pushes to ban or restrict alcohol

Aboriginal leaders in Behchoko, N.W.T.,are set to consider a proposal to ban or restrict alcohol from the community, in an effort to curb instances of crime there, especially youth crime.

The proposal by Coun. Joe Beaverho will be discussed at a community government meeting Wednesday night. Beaverho is encouraging residents who support a ban to attend the meeting.

"People want to do something about our community, make it a better place and a healthy place," he told CBC News in an interview.

Behchoko, a community of about 2,000 located 95 kilometres north of Yellowknife, has been hit with a string of youth crimes since the spring.

With children as young as 10 years old joining gangs and committing acts of vandalism around the community, many residents have partly blamed parents who go out drinking, rather than supervising their children.

If the rest of council supports Beaverho's proposal to ban or restrict alcohol, he said community members would have the final say by voting in a plebiscite.

"The elders mentioned that, you know, if we became a self-government, our first priority was to look at alcohol and drug issues in the community," Beaverho said.

While an alcohol ban would have stiff penalties, Beaverho said, therewould alsobe help for residents struggling with addictions.

But officials with the region's combined health authority and education council said staffing continues to be an issue.

"At this moment, for instance, we're short-staffed at the health centre, we're short-staffed at the wellness centre. We're unable to staff because there's no staff housing in the community," said Jim Martin, head of the Tlicho Community Services Agency in Behchoko.

"These have been issues that have been raised with various bodies and different solutions looked for, but we're struggling with that, for sure," he added.

RCMPhave noted thatcrimedrops by 70 to 80 per cent during Behchoko's annual spiritual gathering, whenthere is atemporary alcohol ban.