I went to a barber in Thunder Bay for a haircut. In the chair ahead of me getting his hair cut was a chief of one of the reserves up north. This guy is contrary to the money grubbing chiefs we read and hear about. This guy and his team actually cared. A friend of mine.

I asked him how things were going so he informed me that he had made a big deal with a mining company. The company was anxious to send the reserve youth to school in order to train them for positions within the company. The company was paying the shot and was very anxious to get started.

I aksed him what he was doing in town besides getting a haircut and he told me that him and a few elders were in town attempting to round up these youths and get them started. When I asked him to explain, he informed me that the reserve is very dry so the youths left the reserve and headed for Thunder Bay. He also informed me that they had joined gangs, got heavily into drugs etc.. and were wandering around the city like lost souls.

I congratulated him and then asked him how he was making out. How many did he round up?

His response: NONE. Oxy is a real magnet. We have absolutely zero power against this epidemic.

So if this is happening to a reserve with elders who care, imagine what is really happening under the cloak of radicalism on the reserves with those elders who only care about their pocket books.

I'm not saying this reserve with the two recent suicides has bad leadership but it sure is a red flag that there are very serious problems with most of the youths.

don