The recently elected Waterhen Chief and Council took drug and alcohol testing to role model for its community members.

Last week readers answered yes or no to the question Do you support the idea of chief and council doing drug and alcohol testing? in our web reader poll with 84.62% answering yes and a 15.38% no response.

The web poll question followed a recent story about Waterhen First Nation Chief and Council's decision to undergo drug and alcohol testing.

The newly elected Chief and Council on the First Nation northern community recently had a swearing-in ceremony to welcome the new leadership February 7^th. Additionally they were given the option to take an alcohol and drug test – something that hasn’t been done in their community.

“We need to be those role models for our community, our program directors, and our employees and for our business sector,” says Chief Joanne Roy of Waterhen Lake First Nation in a past interview. “We’re paving paths that nobody has ever witnessed before.”

Chasity Delorme from Treaty 4 territory says alcohol and drug testing for Chief and Council will be beneficial for the future of First Nation communities.

“A lot of the issues stemmed from intergenerational trauma from residential school. There needs to be some empathy and sympathy for those who are suffering,” she says. “Understanding In order to move forward in a good and healthy way, we need leadership that are in a good place and that are balanced.”

In mid December, Beardy’s and Okemasis  First Nation passed 11 amendments and introduced mandatory drug testing for candidates who wish to run for Chief and Council in upcoming elections