To the editor:
i'm from Long Lake No. 58 First Nation. I'm a mother of four daughters aged 21,18,15 and 12, and the grandmother of one grandson aged 18 months.
I've lived here all my life and it's sad to see someone get arrested, but I don't feel sorry for the people who got raided here recently by the OPP. They have to do their job and thats protecting our children of Long Lake #58.
I too was a drug addict. I was addicted to Oxys for 2.5 years and I came a long way from my journey. I knew I hit rock bottom, lost my children twice to Dilico and that's when it hit me.
I realized what was doing to my life and my children's life. They had nothing. And that is when i said to myself, 'No more, time to quit my old ways.'
So i went for help and got the help. I did alot healing with myself, that's where it all begins -- with ourselves. Heal ourselves and the rest will fall into place and now i can say i've been clean and sober for eight years. I was on methadone for six years and now i'm on suboxione and this medicine has helped me get off methadone and i'm so happy that soon i'll be on a drug-free life.
The only kind of medicine I will be taking is my stroke medication. 'm very proud that our reserve is getting cleaned up. Now it's time to focus on our future, and that is our children. We owe it to them. I promised my kids I will be someone after I get myself cleaned up and i'm on my way to recovery as we speak.
I want to start working with our youth and children or start helping all our young mothers and fathers who are hooked on pills. Once again I thank the police for doing the drug bust at our reserve. It's time to clean out the drug dealers and put them where they belong. I've seen what and how much money they make from Native people and this really hurts my heart that our Native people are sick with this addiction.
I believe people can have a clean, healthy lifestyle and clean environment for their homes. They can change and start fixing their homes up. This my story, thank you.
Raquelle Shebagabow,
Long Lake #58 First Nation