The City of Yellowknife and the Sahtu Secretariat Inc. are receiving a combined total of over $1.6 million from the federal government to enhance their outreach and harm reduction efforts in response to a drug crisis in the region. The funding, announced by N.W.T. MP and Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Rebecca Alty, is part of the federal Emergency Treatment Fund and is separate from the government’s regular budget.
Of the allocated amount, over $900,000 will support Yellowknife’s Enhanced Street Outreach Program managed by Home Base Yellowknife. This initiative aims to provide on-the-ground assistance by offering harm reduction supplies and aiding individuals with housing, health, and social services. Mayor Ben Hendriksen emphasized the importance of these funds in bolstering the program’s impact within the community.
The remainder of the funding will be directed towards the Sahtu Harm Reduction and Support Program, focusing on overdose prevention initiatives and culturally-appropriate education and support services to enhance community resilience. Joseph Kochon, representing the Sahtu Secretariat Inc., highlighted the unexpected speed at which the drug crisis has affected their community, especially its youth population.
Kochon expressed concerns about the lack of adequate police resources tailored to small communities’ needs but emphasized the determination to address the challenges faced. The goal is to prevent further loss of young lives and strengthen efforts to combat the drug crisis.