Behchoko, N.W.T., residents concerned about alcohol abuse

Some residents in Behchoko don’t feel safe at night or on the weekends in the community.

They say a surge in drinking and drug abuse has caused more violence in the community, and they say the 2009 liquor prohibition has not helped curb the problem.

"I have friends who are afraid for their lives," said Mabel Bohnet, a Behchoko resident.

At night, Bohnet said she sees swarms of young people roaming the community with two-by-fours and baseball bats.

"There are always teenagers stumbling around, drunk or high. You can’t just walk around with your kids," she said.

The community’s ban on liquor came into effect on June 15, 2009. Bohnet said that’s when things took a turn for the worse.

"Because they can’t take in alcohol they start taking in other things like hairspray and Lysol. And from there, people that never did drugs, like older adults, started doing [them]," said Bohnet.

"Before, people used to have social drinks here and there. You have to hide it, the alcohol has gotten worse."

Mary Adele Tsatchia said about half the community’s residents have a severe drinking problem. She spent close to four decades addicted to alcohol and in a violent relationship.

"To the point where he started breaking my nose, and breaking my jaw, and the beatings started getting out of hand, he put a knife to my throat, saying ‘if you don’t take me back I will kill you and I will kill my daughters’," she said.

Her journey of pain started years before. Her mother was drinking heavily in Yellowknife when she froze to death in 1975. Tsatchia took her first sip in her teens and it has been an uphill battle to kick her addiction in the community. She said people are constantly inviting her to have a shot of alcohol or to go party.

She quit cold-turkey two years ago, with the help of her elders, culture and prayers.

Community calls for more Mounties

Bohnet said the community needs more RCMP officers or community constables.

RCMP spokesperson Barry Ledoux said there are 10 officers stationed in the community. He said alcohol is a contributing factor in the majority of serious offences.

"When we are there, they hide. Like most communities that have a high crime rate, we are continually playing the cat and mouse chase. These people know that they have a time period to do these things. Sometimes we win, and sometimes we don’t," he said.

Ledoux said there have been 32 arrests for assaults, including eight for aggravated assault in the community since December.

Both Ledoux and Bohnet want to see more residents tipping off police about dealers and bootleggers.

"It’s up to the people to stand up and say ‘enough is enough, I’m not going to fear these people coming after me’," said Ledoux.

Bohnet said she is only one person, but she hopes she's not alone in her fight to deal with violence and alcoholism in Behchoko.