Photo by Vince Fedoroff
A PLACE TO SEEK COMFORT – The Council of Yukon First Nations hosted a Sacred Fire at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre from Friday through Sunday for those struggling with the recent spate of drug overdoses. There was ceremony at the opening, and both Saturday and Sunday.
It appears the Yukon has lost another person to the street drugs crisis.
It appears the Yukon has lost another person to the street drugs crisis.
According to a news release issued just before 11:00 this morning, chief coroner Heather Jones is investigating a death that occurred in Carcross over the weekend.
“Preliminary evidence suggests the death may be related to illicit drugs,” the release stated.
“The Yukon Coroner’s Service has received preliminary toxicology results for the three deaths that occurred between Jan. 15 and 19, and can now confirm that the deaths are related to illicit drug use.
“Toxicology confirms that fentanyl was present in all three cases; and cocaine and benzodiazepines (‘benzos’) were also present in two of the cases.”
“This means that eight individuals, pending toxicology on one case, have tragically died between Jan. 3 and 23 due to illicit drug use.”
Jones said, “As chief coroner, and as a member of our Yukon community, I wish to express my sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died.
“The weight of grief before us is truly heartbreaking. I ask everyone to be compassionate as we mourn these tragic deaths and work together to create the change that is needed to alter our course.
“I am urging anyone who is using drugs or needs support with substance use to access the available resources below and please do not use alone.”
Last Thursday, the Yukon government declared a health emergency due to the overdose crisis.
The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation government has issued a statement following the losses of two young women last week in Whitehorse to drug overdoses.
Both women were Old Crow residents, who have left family members behind.
The Star is choosing not to identify the women.
In a statement issued on the VGG’s Facebook page, deputy chief Paul Josie said one of the women was an excellent athlete, with a passion for hockey.
“Her passion for hockey was demonstrated on ice as a North Yukon Eagles player at the annual Yukon Native Hockey Tournament.”
The second young woman was “a kind and loving person. She had many friends and a large family extending throughout the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, and she spoke warmly about them.
“As a mother, she was very proud of her chidren. They brought her great joy and happiness.”
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Comments (24)
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TheHammer on Jan 29, 2022 at 10:50 am
Snowman@Quite the snow job!
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Groucho d'North on Jan 27, 2022 at 8:36 am
@Snowman
The only reason the Trudeau Liberals legalized cannibis was for the revenue that flows to govrenments. Their motivation is/was the same as any street dealer trying to pay the bills...and to buy the votes of the young and impressionable of course.
All this defending noise about bringing down the black market dealers is BS.
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Josh on Jan 26, 2022 at 2:36 pm
@Smowman
Explanation needed for you here's how it plays out. A guy gets picked up for impaired driving 3 times. Crown and lawyer agree to a 18 month sentence for the impaired driver 9 months for the guy with half a million and drugs. Crown agrees to hold one guy in custody for 4 breaches no bail but releases the dealer. The lawyers up here are not lawyers, they are plea bargainers. How many of the witnesses that testified against Edward Penner had criminal charges pending dropped in exchange to testify against him. Every witness the crown produced was a dealer but they're credible because the crown says so. This is why 100% Mr. Penner will win his appeal because beyond the Yukon Territory where justice does prevail and real evidence is needed not bargains made by lawyers and crowns.
That's how our liberal government has affected the justice system. As for peoples Facebook I don't play on Facebook nor do I care about the guy in Tagish or anywhere else. Stop trying to defend it undependable Government you are obviously making a point that these people on your word are conservative which is nonsense. Dealers don't have a political view it's just even the dealers are laughing at the government so save that part of a defense for the gossip section.
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Sarah Davison on Jan 26, 2022 at 12:27 pm
I don't want to sound unduly harsh, my point is that is a distressing and worsening situation, about as serious as it's possible to get, and people in this community want to know what they can do to help. Concrete action. This is why some sort of guidance from police would be helpful, along with some explanation for why this is happening right now.
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Groucho d'North on Jan 26, 2022 at 9:02 am
Here we are at the 'Who is to Blame' stage of the drug death show. Lots of viewpoints being made here are correct as there are numerous influences that have formed the culture we live in today. It's not limited to just drugs either, booze still ranks as one of the more problematic substances causing death and a lesser quality of life.
People need to have some pride and sense of purpose in their lives to remain healthy and positive about their lot in life and a happy future. I see a growing background of bad news and historic bad feelings being promoted to many who are vulnerable. If all you hear is how bad things are for you and there is no hope for positive change, how are these people supposed to be motivated to make their lives better?
It's much easier to get on a good buzz and bitch and complain about whatever you want to blame your problems on. For some, there is no hope, because they have been told there isn't. This is a simple thing to change, and it begins at home.
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Snowman on Jan 25, 2022 at 8:59 pm
@Josh one more thing. In your comment to Steven you say: "protect the drug dealers and allowed the courts to make deals because these POS dealers own businesses"
You do realize that these dealers are mostly devout conservatives right? If you are from Whitehorse, you likely know them. So why are they so supportive of the Yukon Party and federal cons when according to you, the Liberals would be much easier on them for their crimes? Seems weird that they would support the political party that would be hardest on them. They are also anti-vaxxers.
Look up the most recent bust of business people who were laundering and dealing. Look up their names on facebook and you will find one guy in particular with an upside down maple leaf as his profile pic. Then you'll notice how he likes and shares conservative posts all the time while attacking Liberals. The same goes for another guy who was arrested out near Tagish in 2019 with coke and guns (and already had a prior conviction). Huge conservative supporter and always liking and commenting on Yukon Party posts while attacking Liberals.
So what exactly is it about the Yukon Party and federal conservative party that draws the support of these criminals? Even the guy who shot people recently in Faro. Look at his Facebook page if it is still up, full of 'Canada Proud' anti-Liberal posts and all sorts of gun freedom BS posts.
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Snowman on Jan 25, 2022 at 8:35 pm
@Josh Yes that's true, they decided to give judges more leniency by getting rid of mandatory sentences for gun crimes. I guess you agree that we need to be extra hard on people for gun infractions. Good to know.
" they've released people on severe charges" - This has been happening for the last 20 years. Have any evidence that it happened a lot more under the Liberals currently?
"they've denied the sexual offender registry" What are you talking about?
" they opened a safe injection site and a low barrier shelter" This wasn't the federal liberals and I doubt you have a lick of evidence showing that either of those things are linked to an uptick in crime anyway. It's just no longer hidden away like a shameful secret. The association of National Police Chiefs actually recommended decriminalizing all drugs (which should make libertarians happy) btw.
"they've federally allowed the courts to systematically ignore the victims" No they didn't. And I don't have to provide any proof for my statement since you aren't providing any for yours.
The biggest thing the Libs did was legalize pot so we could start focusing on real criminals and stop sending average people into crime school (prison) where they often became much worse upon their release. Thankfully they did this despite conservatives opposing it and telling everyone how dangerous pot is. Remember the scare tactic commercials that the conservatives put out about how dangerous pot is before the 2015 election? They were like American 'War on Drugs' ads.
The liberals also legalized assisted suicide and stopped making criminals out of anyone who assisted a terminally ill person who wanted to die because their continued existence was literally torture. Have you ever witnessed someone you live die slowly and painfully? I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. Again the conservatives opposed this in order to appease their religious base.
Locally, the Liberals just recently increased the powers of the SCAN program which allows people to get rid of suspected drug dealers in their neighborhoods. But the local conservatives aka Yukon Party under Currie Dixon opposed it because they said it could have a negative impact on gun owners. Shows where their priorities are.
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Patrice on Jan 25, 2022 at 11:40 am
Thank you for the compassionate reporting. I’m sorry it’s turned into another political argument. Drug abuse is a public health crisis. It should be treated as one. I’m glad resources are available for addicts to avoid overdose deaths until they can get help overcoming whatever mental and physical struggles they’re experiencing.
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Josh on Jan 25, 2022 at 11:17 am
@Snowman
Well where should I start? Ok they stopped mandatory sentences, they've released people on severe charges, they've denied the sexual offender registry, they've done nothing to protect women in the community, they opened a safe injection site and a low barrier shelter, they've federally allowed the courts to systematically ignore the victims and acknowledge the offenders poor up bringing. There's a few. Now you tell me what they've done to protect or better the Territory or Canada. Your turn.
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Josh on Jan 25, 2022 at 11:03 am
@ Steven
I'm sorry buddy but you are wrong on your statement your liberal horsecrap is nonsense. Nobody had a stronger stance on crime than the conservative party. Harris built 9 new penitentiaries and 90 man living units in existing penitentiaries. Made mandatory sentences for guns and home invasions and sexual assault charges the correctional centre in Whitehorse was at a 70% population rate and bail was being denied. Those are facts, Ryan Leef can attest to those facts. Since this liberal government has taken charge, they have relaxed all restrictions and mandatory sentences. Allowed sexual predators to walk freely unnamed, no sexual registry, protect the drug dealers and allowed the courts to make deals because these POS dealers own businesses. How I can only guess but they're paying taxes which makes them a liberal money grab. So save your conservatives were in the same s*it the facts speak for themselves. These are undisputed facts not just here but in every liberal province Territory and State.
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Mike on Jan 25, 2022 at 10:52 am
@ Sarah Davison
Is it your belief that covid restrictions are to blame for people becoming addicted or overdosing? If that's your stance on it then seriously you have no conception of addiction and are ranting as am I about these useless baseless restrictions but that's a different story. This story is about people dying of fentanyl overdoses which has zero to do with covid restrictions. Nobody in their right mind would even follow this incompetent government let alone go get high because they can't handle the stress, that's weak.
This is about the predators, AKA dealers preying on the prey being the addict. And the useless justice system that enables this to happen. I 100% agree with your comment against covid restrictions way but these two things are completely different. The only common ground is the liberals are allowing both of these travesties to happen.
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Sarah Davison on Jan 25, 2022 at 8:51 am
There's lots of talk about mental health and addiction issues to explain away the crime wave that's claimed 8 lives so far this year. Nobody is talking about these ridiculous Covid 19 restrictions. They've made people sad, lonely, addicted, and desperate, and substance abuse is off the charts as a result. Public health officials are at least partially responsible for these deaths. They've imposed a level of social isolation totally unjustified by the facts of this pandemic - which is no longer a pandemic, and hasn't been for months. They've ignored repeated scientific studies proving the pointlessness of lockdowns while messing up the data so badly it's not possible to tell which hospitalizations are directly related to Covid or are incidental - the patient is admitted for another issue and then is found to have Covid, likely though contagion at the hospital.
The bottom line is, if people are abusing drugs and alcohol more now than ever - and they are - public health officials bear a substantial responsibility for that. All restrictions need to be lifted immediately. This should have happened months ago. If the UK can do it so can the Yukon. Note that Florida has the highest senior population in the United States and one of the lowest death and hospitalization rates from Covid in that country. Why? Because it has no restrictions. Lift the restrictions NOW.
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Snowman on Jan 24, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Hey Josh, can you please detail which changes the Liberals have made to the justice system since coming to power that make it easier for criminals/drug dealers to be released?
Surely you must be able to point to some kind of change in laws to make them more lenient? Perhaps drug dealers specifically?
If you are going to accuse the Liberals of acting like the NDP, at least back it up with some evidence. All of the thumbs up on your post also speaks to the herd mentality of conservatives who don't care that you posted zero evidence. Derrrp derp, he done did just bashed them evil communist libtards and I love it. derp ddeerrp.
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bonanzajoe on Jan 24, 2022 at 7:46 pm
What is the FN doing with all those millions of dollars the Libs give to them to deal with this problem? As a tax payer, I have a right to know. How many years now have I been hearing this same old story. Sacred fires and sweat lodges are not the answer. If they were, this problem would have been gone years ago.
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Himbo on Jan 24, 2022 at 7:26 pm
The government should make a vaccine that works against overdoses and make it mandatory for everyone, since they are so good at vaccines.
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Sarah Davison on Jan 24, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Community leaders need to sort this out before Whitehorse becomes known as a nasty little town with a drug habit, and a police detachment too incompetent to properly investigate sexual abuse in the schools. In other words, not a place to raise kids. This was always a wonderful place for kids. So it's all very well emoting about the sadness of these deaths, all deaths are sad, the more pressing issue is what can be done to halt the body count. In some situations, words don't matter.
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Sarah Davison on Jan 24, 2022 at 6:13 pm
Can we please have an update or at least some type of statement from the cops on this rapid, exponential rise in fentanyl deaths? This stuff is coming in from somewhere, someone is bringing it in, or it's being made on site here, and it's contaminating existing drug supplies. People are at risk, they are taking fentantyl and in all likelihood they don't realise it. The killer here is fentanyl. What are the police doing about this? How many busts, how many arrests, how many successful convictions?
Whitehorse has grown in population by 25 percent over ten years. This is a very different place now with a very different population, and that includes a different criminal profile. That profile is now killing Yukoners. Young Yukoners. What are the police doing, and what can we do to help them put a stop to this?
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Lady Justice sees very well… on Jan 24, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Hello Josh - I support your message. Legal Aid, the DOJ, the PPSC, and the Judiciary have all become a circus. I remember being in Court one day listening to one of the Judges refer to a lawyer from Crown Services as being from Clown Services. It was funny to watch this particular member of Crown Services choke back his instinctual response, and swallow it.
This Judge was not a local. This Judge seemed to see through the local politics of relatively big fish in a small pond. There was truth in the humour. Many of the individuals in our “legal system” do not have the level of conscientiousness, let alone consciousness to do the job they were hired to do.
And this is a large part of the problem. Lawyers have become social Justice advocates rather than triers and testers of fact, arguing facts. They have become image-makers, story-tellers, and creative adjudicators of a fashioned reality that lacks the essential qualities of reality - Testable hypotheses.
In today’s Justice system it is the belief that matters, not reality. This is the consequence of “Judges Gone Wild -Spring Break Madness Yukon” episode #666 - The devil is in the details.
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Steven on Jan 24, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Nice try, pinning this on the Liberals, Josh. This revolving-door Justice system has been going on well before the Libs took over from the Cons.
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Juniper Jackson on Jan 24, 2022 at 4:50 pm
The addicts won't give up their dealers, the dealers won't give up the manufacturers.. Give out free drugs? For an addict, there is never enough, they will take the free stuff and buy, and build a 'stash', then eventually take the entire stash...and another OD. There is no easy answer to addiction. And no one answer either. Everyone knows today about the dangers of drugs, so why? The reasons are as myriad as the solutions. Of all the answers/solutions.. there is only one surety. And that is, a person has to want help. We can do nothing except mourn if they don't want help. How do we stop them from, 'i'll just try one' or 'everyone else is doing it' or, 'i feel pretty good on pot, i'll see if i can feel better/higher on crack' and the ever famous..'i know some die..but it won't be me', or the 'I can stop anytime I want to". What do the addicts say the answer is?
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Josh on Jan 24, 2022 at 4:03 pm
When was the last time you read drug bust dealers remanded in custody. Oh yeah, when the liberals were elected that's right. Cops arrest - courts release and release and release - it's revolving door. You have people charged and released the same day three four times in the same month. The liberals don't care about anybody but building their socialist agenda. The problem is that these low life POS that sell the stuff get less time than people doing time for shoplifting and breaches. The justice system in the Yukon since the liberals have been elected has lost any and all credibility. Is there justice in the Yukon Territory in 2022? NO.
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Groucho d'North on Jan 24, 2022 at 2:50 pm
My heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost loved ones due to drug use.
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John on Jan 24, 2022 at 2:46 pm
...and it will continue, perhaps in even larger numbers as long as we stay on the course we are on. That course has already proven to have created havoc wherever it has been implemented. Free drugs along with decriminalizing them, just makes them more accessible. Do any of you know "Martin" ? Answer - "Martin Up" !
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Yukoner on Jan 24, 2022 at 2:42 pm
I'm sure a lot of people know who are the ones selling these young ppl toxic drugs. Why don't people start speaking up and inform the RCMP who these ppl are before somebody else overdoses and dies! Enough is enough!