PICTOU LANDING – We’re not going to take it anymore. It might be a Twisted Sister song from the mid-1980s, but it’s also the message that members of the Pictou Landing community sent Friday with a march through the reservation, carrying banners and waving signs.
They want illegal drugs out of their community, and the march was the first step to achieving that goal.
The Parents Against Drugs march is a movement that stems out of Eskasoni, explained Barry Bernard, communications officer for the Mi’kmaw Legal Support Network and Eskasoni resident.
“Last year in Eskasoni, we held our first march,” Bernard said. “We just celebrated our one-year anniversary, and Pictou Landing is now the fifth community to join our fight, the first one on the mainland.”
Since the first march last November in Eskasoni, community residents have seen a significant difference. In just one year, there have been 39 drug busts on the reserve.
“The police are getting calls from people in the community, and the police are taking action,” he said.
“Because people are more aware of drugs being a problem, the amount of drugs is being minimized.”
Friday’s march in Pictou Landing served to kick off an awareness campaign in that community as well.
“It’s a promise to support active and healthy living,” as well as to denounce illegal drugs, Bernard added. “We want to develop a better community atmosphere and help people from going into drugs and alcohol.”
Representatives from the Pictou County RCMP were on hand for the march. Const. Matt Perry said he hoped the march reminded people they can contact police and provide information anonymously.
“We’re aware the community is dealing with these issues with drugs and alcohol, but it’s not just a reserve thing – it’s happening in communities throughout the county,” he said.
“This walk is all about showing community members that they aren’t putting up with these substances in their community, in partnership with the police.”
More than 100 people participated in the walk.