BRANDON — Sioux Valley Dakota Nation issued an urgent health warning to community members on Saturday about dangerous contaminants in illicit drugs after fentanyl was recently found by police.
Chief Vince Tacan said on Sunday that he authorized the advisory after learning what officers found when they responded to a call at a home on the First Nation within the last week. Tacan said they noticed “strange substances.”
“It was fentanyl,” Tacan said. “They had it tested and that’s what came back.”
“So I thought, well, we should be telling people that it’s here so that we can avoid any overdoses. It’s an abundance of caution,” Tacan said.
“We’re trying to make people aware because up until now we haven’t had any fentanyl deaths — knock on wood, but it’s here now, right? And the worst-case scenario would be some child accidentally getting in contact with this.”
“It’s not safe, it’s dangerous stuff,” he said.
Additionally, the urgent health advisory stated that community members need to watch out for other “multiple dangerous contaminants in illicit drugs circulating in our community.”
The document listed the substances that “pose a significant risk to your health and safety” and laid out key concerns for amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and fentanyl.
Mixing cocaine with other substances to increase volume can lead to overdose and severe health complications. “Cutting agents can be harmful and toxic,” the document stated.
Using amphetamines and methamphetamine can cause severe psychological and physical dependence, with the document warning, “contaminants may include unknown chemicals that can lead to unpredictable and dangerous reactions.”
The document described fentanyl as an “extremely potent opioid that is frequently mixed with other drugs without the user’s knowledge. Even a tiny amount can be fatal, leading to a high risk of overdose.”
The health warning also included 18 community resource and emergency services contact phone numbers, including the Sioux Valley Health Centre at 204-855-2960 and the Sioux Valley drug tip line to call or text at 204-901-4527.
Tacan has been chief of the First Nation since winning the election in October 2023. During his campaign and since, he’s been vocal about bringing hope to the people through mentorship, renovating homes that are in poor or unsafe living condition and ridding the community of dangerous drugs.
This is the first time an emergency notice has been issued about illicit drugs, Tacan said, adding, “whenever the community is in danger, we’re going to do more notices as things happen.”
“We have to get a handle on this,” Tacan said. “My thoughts and my concerns are for the students.
“How can kids get a good education when they’re dealing with drugs, and drugs in the community and drugs in the school? Are people trying to sell stuff to them, or are they being recruited? I’m just trying to tip the odds in their favor.”
The Sioux Valley Crisis Line is available 24-7 for anyone who needs help or support. The telephone numbers are 204-512-0874 or toll free 1-888-316-3511.
— Brandon Sun