MN-S President Glen McCallum notes a land-based treatment program introduced in Pinehouse has had a lot of success addressing addictions issues. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Real solutions

MN-S declares state of emergency, seeks funding for land based healing facility

Aug 22, 2025 | 3:00 PM

Noting the devastating effects of drugs and gangs, and a lack of long-term community-based cultural supports, Brennan Merasty says he saw an opportunity as an elected official to take action and help the people he has seen suffering.

The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) Minister responsible for self-determination, self-government and justice, introduced a resolution, now passed by the Provincial Métis Council (PMC), that essentially empowers the MN–S government to engage with the province and Canada to provide resources that support community-led initiatives such as a land based healing facility. Merasty noted the issues happening in his own home community of Île-à-la-Crosse

“When you have homes boarded up because of crystal meth being used and you can’t have people in there for a year because you have to clean it up so it’s something that’s been foreign to us in northern communities but is more present today,” he explained.

Merasty, who also acknowledged his own experience and road to sobriety, said treatment centres are not the answer, and added the short programs do not properly address the inner trauma Indigenous people are dealing with.

“Our families are broken up because of child apprehension, 60’s scoop and more importantly residential school,” he explained.

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Beverly Fullerton, MN-S minister of health, mental health and addictions, noted these conversations have been in the works for quite a few years and agreed that institutional programs and programs that are not specific to a person’s individual needs are just not working.

“You know when we remove a person – especially a citizen – safe from a northern community and they have to go to a southern urban setting just to access care and treatment, it could actually cause more damage to our people,’ she said.

Added to Fullerton’s frustration is the “band-aid” solutions other organizations or governments are offering such as a short term shelter for homelessness, or more RCMP to a certain community to deal with gangs and violence. She said real solutions do require money.

“We do need [money][ to bring in the experts, we do need to you know pay for research or implementing program staffing you know those positions. All you have to do is just go take a walk in any community right now and you’re gonna see the influx of addictions, gangs, our youth on the street or people sleeping on benches. It’s not a behind-the-scenes problem anymore. This is an epidemic.”

Through an emailed statement, MN–S President Glen McCallum stated over 30 years ago, Pinehouse was dubbed the ‘drinking capital of Canada’, but the community came together and established the ‘Recovery Lake Program’, a land-based treatment program that has helped turn things around.

“The blueprint is there. Let’s get to work, collaborate with our provincial and federal partners, and build upon that foundation.”

The MN-S executive confirmed discussions are already underway with RM’s and communities around Batoche to establish a land-based treatment facility.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social