Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
May 27, 2009
The following statement was issued by the Honourable
Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. It was also read in the
House of Assembly:
Fight Against Drugs Campaign Educating
Aboriginal Youth
I rise in this Honourable House to inform my
colleagues of a recent event I participated in while visiting the
Miawpukek First Nation reserve in Conne River. As part of his Fight
against Drugs Campaign, Canadian boxing giant George Chuvalo spoke to
students from St. Anne�s All-Grade School and Bay d�Espoir Academy about
his experience as a father in a family ravaged by drug abuse.
Mr. Chuvalo has an honoured place in sports history
for never being knocked down while going toe-to-toe with some of
boxing�s finest, including the legendary Muhammad Ali. However, the
exploits of this world-class athlete�s battles in the ring pale in
comparison with the tragic story of how his family was nearly destroyed
by drug addiction. This great fighter told students in Conne River how
he struggled outside the boxing ring, when heroin addiction claimed the
lives of three of his sons and drove his wife to suicide.
Stopping the abuse of drugs is a challenge for all
communities, and like most social problems, the best solutions often
come from within the communities themselves. This is what this event was
all about. Conne River, under the inspired leadership of Chief Misel
Joe, is to be congratulated for bringing Mr. Chuvalo and his Fight
Against Drugs Campaign to their community. The Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Labrador and
Aboriginal Affairs, is pleased to add its financial support in the
effort to bring Mr. Chuvalo to Conne River and the Labrador communities
of Hopedale and North West River to share his personal experience of the
tragic consequences of drug abuse.
We know that drug addiction is a problem for many
communities, which is why this government supports efforts to tackle
substance abuse on many fronts, including the Suicide and Detrimental
Lifestyles Grant Program for Aboriginal people funded through my
department. The Miawpukek First Nation is a perfect example of a
community that is taking control of its destiny and tackling difficult
and complex social issues such as drug abuse. This is truly a model
Aboriginal community, not just for Newfoundland and Labrador, but all of
Canada, and beyond. The people of Conne River celebrate Mi�kmaq customs
and traditions, their distinct culture and heritage, and inspire other
Aboriginal communities to do the same. They do this while facing the
very real challenges of 21st century life, head-on.
2009 05 27 2:20 p.m.