Edgy, I will speak from the experience of actually working on 4 northern reserves in Northeast Manitoba. I was up there for over 9 months in 2015-16.

Getting dough for that kind of an enterprise is easily done and this is 1 way how. What I did not witness but from correspondance with the local RCMP from Gillam where I was stationed, I learned that it is the "tough guys" that can extort money from others on the reserve in a multitude of ways. I will tell you of the most common according to the authorities... First, you have the "tough guys" from the reserve hand out freebies, presents if you will, to kids. Not 5 and 8 year old kids but as early as 10 - 11 (as seen by my own eyes the poor kids walking around on the streets when I had to fly in for an emergency to cut down live power lines to a house that just burned down). These kids on a Friday and again on another Saturday were walking down the middle of the street with glassy eyes not moving out of the road when approached with a vehicle. I took it apon myself to make sure I did not get close to hitting one of these poor little guys (and girls). Once you have them hooked on the "high", it is easy to make sure that they get money any way that they can to continue their habit. This can continue for years and when they finally get their own money, you can imagine where a lot of it goes... Now to be fair, this kind of thing goes on Everywhere and is not isolated to the Northern Reserves. There is just less to do on the reserves so it is more enticing.

On 2 of the 4 reserves where I worked, there were Gangs made and these gangs were the ones responsible for bringing these "substances" on to the reserve. These gangs don't care a bit for the welfare of their citizens but care only for the drugs and money that they can make from them. I know, my nephew has had this problem for the past 20+ years and I seriously doubt that he will ever be rid of the habit... It would take an honest to goodness miracle from above to cure that boy for which I pray for. These gangs see their "customers" only as numbers that they can get money from. It is a fantastic way to make a HUGE amount of money aside from creating walking zombies by burning out their brains with the substances they use... It is horrible and I thank God that He didn't allow me to get into that kind of lifestyle!! 

So you see, it is only a problem like the rest of the world has but it gets magnified by the isolation of living in the north with few jobs or other responsible actions that can keep them free from that path. You can imagine how I felt when I had to turn off the power to some of these people in the "ghetto areas" when they couldn't pay their electric bills. It was something I had to do (my job if I wanted to keep it) but it didn't seem to affect anyone as I recall shutting off the power to mostly the same people again and again in a 9 month period.

So the problem doesn't lie with the "community" as such. It lies in the Demographics and Isolation and lack of things to create Accountability in "My Opinion". Opening up the Ring of Fire will not cure the entire situation but it will give the people up there something that gives them an out from their current situation. They still have to make the choice to work and become accountable and the "Temptations" will still be there, perhaps moreso with the extra money brought in from their jobs. Perhaps their Elders can show the Younglings that there is other ways to find Joy in life. I met some amazing Elders in those same Reserves so they are there. It is just so hard for them when they are isolated with not enough money to be able to enjoy their world. Unfortunately, it takes money these days. The days when they signed their treaties when they were self sufficient are no longer here. Too much has changed in the world.

So, there is a real problem and I sure hope that there aren't severe repercussions for those that are volunteering their time to confiscate those substances. The people who ran those activities where I worked wouldn't put up with that for very long. I wish them all the luck in the world as that is a very dangerous situation.

Just my 2 cents for the day. 

Herb