Open Letter to Kwanlin Dün First Nation on Community Wellness and Safety

As your Council, we stand firmly in our duty to promote and nurture our community’s wellbeing. Our Citizens continue to suffer significant loss due to substance use. We have had a number of recent overdoses in the KDFN community due to alcohol and drug use, toxic and unpredictable drug supply, and lack of knowledge around administering drugs safely. We are here to support and educate our Citizens through healing and wellness initiatives and to enhance safety within our community.

Supporting Citizens

Our approach is comprehensive and non-judgmental, focused on harm reduction. We encourage everyone affected by substance use to seek assistance, assuring you that our support extends to all, no matter your situation. We understand the need for more individual outreach, access to treatment, aftercare and on the land pursuits. We are working on it.

Our commitment is to:

  • Facilitate easier access to treatment for those in need
  • Provide aftercare program supports accessible in our community
  • Ensure consistent availability of counsellors
  • Expand our circle of care supports with personalized care plans, focusing on prevention for families and youth
  • Increase access to information around how to administer drugs safely, how to test drugs, and how to access naloxone kits and ongoing support
  • Develop a declaration of a substance use emergency
  • Engage and consult the community

 

Reducing the Presence of Drugs in Our Community

To help reduce harmful substances in our community, we lean on our partnerships with:

  • KDFN RCMP Team: This enhanced team works within the KDFN community and prioritizes the safety needs of KDFN Citizens. If you have concerns, please call the main KDFN Justice Line at 867-633-7800 EXT 640
  • Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit: This specialized unit addresses community concerns about drug trafficking and bootlegging. If you have concerns, you can confidentially contact SCAN via email at SCAN@yukon.ca, or by phone at 867-456-SCAN (7226) or toll-free in Yukon at 1-866-530-SCAN (7226). They will handle your concerns with discretion and respect. For more information, please visit yukon.ca/en/scan.
  • TIPS Line: Crime Stoppers Yukon – submit an anonymous tip at 1-800-222-8477.

 

We have included a list of supports and services that KDFN offers. We are eager to hear from you to further enhance our support systems. Your feedback is crucial, so please reach out to any Council member, our Justice, Health or Education & Social Supports teams with your thoughts or needs.

 

  • KDFN Community Safety Officers: This team works 7 nights a week until 3 a.m. to ensure the safety of KDFN Citizens. They also help Citizens access services such as EMS, RCMP and Child & Family Supports. Phone: 867-633-7800 EXT 622 or EXT 621 (during the day) or 332-9551 anytime.
  • KDFN Child & Family Supports Team: This team works with children and parents in accessing supports, navigating treatment options, and developing safety plans. Phone: 867-633- 7800 EXT 601 to access a Child & Family Support Caseworker.

 

Drug Testing Supports Available:

  • KDFN’s Nats’ekhi Kų̀ Health Centre offers fentanyl strip testing. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 867-668-7289.
  • KDFN’s Pathways team provides Harm Reduction Support and service connection. Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at Kenädän Kų̀ – House of Learning. Phone: 867-633-8422.
  • Blood Ties Outreach Van (co-managed as a partnership with KDFN and FASSY) offers fentanyl strip testing. 5 to 9 p.m. daily. Phone: 867-334-1647
  • Whitehorse Emergency Shelter offers spectrometer testing when there is a paramedic stationed on site (typically 24hrs/day; subject to staffing).
  • Blood Ties Supervised Consumption Site offers spectrometer testing 7 days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Smoke room closes at 8:30 p.m. 6189 6th Phone: 867-687-4545
  • Referred Care Clinic, 210 Elliott Street, offers fentanyl strip testing Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • The Whitehorse General Hospital (also an access point for Naloxone Kits and testing kits).

 

Counselling & Cultural Services Available:

  • Drop-in counselling services at KDFN’s Nats’ekhi Kų̀ Health Centre. Phone: 867-668-7289
  • Drop-in counselling at 405 Ogilvie Street Collaborative Hub on Mondays
  • Cultural supports available in an individual / family / group setting by reaching out through our Health & Wellness team to discuss your interests.
  • Women’s & Men’s Groups with our KDFN teams offered either at the 405 Ogilvie Street. Collaborative Hub or in McIntyre weekly (watch our Facebook / Instagram pages for location and times).

 

Harm Reduction Supplies & Training: available through KDFN’s Nats’ekhi Kų̀ Health Centre and 405 Ogilvie Street Collaborative Hub, Monday through Friday. This includes naloxone kits and training to administer naloxone. Harm reduction supplies are also available in the evenings from the Blood Ties Outreach Van which you can call and request.

 

Access Support

If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, help is available.

  • Mental wellness and substance use services – phone: 867-667-8473
  • Contact Nats’ekhi Kų̀ Health Centre at 867-668-7289 or email intake@kdfn.net.

 

Together, we can foster a healthier and safer community.

Sincerely,

Kwanlin Dün First Nation Council