Following the recent arrests of five men in the death of 25-year-old Wayne Valliere, Jr. of Lac du Flambeau, the Lac du Flambeau Band Of Lake Superior Chippewa tribal council has issued a call to strengthen efforts to stop drug abuse.
In a press release, the council is calling for a tri-county effort. The Lac du Flambeau Tribe hosted a meeting January 19 with key players from Oneida, Vilas, and Iron counties in hopes of building a collaborative effort to conquer drug issues within our region. Those in attendance included judges, District Attorneys, county Sheriffs, jail administrators, and County Board Supervisors, LDF Town Chair, the FBI, US Attorney General, and the Tribal Council.
After the meeting, the Tribal Council passed a resolution supporting the expansion of the Tribal Action Plan “TAP” to include a Tri-County effort to combat drugs. The resolution supports the efforts of all three counties and will engage joint efforts in all sectors of need. We have the press release and proposed county boards resolution below.
LDF Tribal Council Calls for Regional Approach to Drug Abuse and Violence LAC DU FLAMBEAU—
FEBRUARY 9, 2018—Following the release of criminal complaints for suspects in the Wayne Valliere, Jr. murder, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council issued the following statement. “Drug abuse and violence is a regional problem in northern Wisconsin and we need to work together as a region to stop it.”
“This type of activity is precisely the reason the Tribe recently held a meeting with officials and agencies from Iron, Oneida and Vilas Counties to discuss the need for a joint effort to fight drug abuse and violence in the Tri-County region.”
Lac du Flambeau Tribe hosted a meeting January 19 with key players from Oneida, Vilas, and Iron counties in hopes of building a collaborative effort to conquer drug issues within our region. Those in attendance included: Judges, District Attorneys, County Sheriffs, Jail Administrators, and County Supervisors, LDF Town Chair, FBI, US Attorney General, and the Tribal Council.
After the meeting, the Tribal Council passed a resolution to approve of the Tribe supporting the expansion of the Tribal Action Plan “TAP” to include a Tri-County effort to combat drugs. The resolution supports the efforts of all three counties and will engage joint efforts in all sectors of need. “The Lac du Flambeau Tribe would like to thank all county and federal officials who attended the meeting. We were encouraged by the interest and participation of the county officials and agencies at that meeting who showed a willingness to join forces to keep all of our communities safe. We are hopeful the Tri-County approach moves forward. This is an issue that impacts our entire region.”
The draft resolution was submitted to each County to help facilitate a commitment to the urgent need for regional cooperation in fighting drug abuse and violence. “Over the years, the Tribe has advocated and pursued strong enforcement and strong prosecution of criminals. The Tribe has not seen an increase in gangs residing on the reservation. But the Tribe believes gangs are bringing criminal activity into the Tri-County region.” "Our community continues to mourn the loss of this young man, Wayne Valliere, Jr., and cooperate fully with the investigation into his death, We are grateful for the support of everyone working to help community members through this difficult time and to insure justice is served."
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RESOLUTION NO:__________ ESTABLISHING TRI-COUNTY/TRIBAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE RESPONSE COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, Northern Wisconsin is in the midst of a drug addiction epidemic, driven by opioids and methamphetamine, resulting in a tragic increase in overdose deaths and drug-related crime in the Counties of Iron, Oneida, and Vilas and on the Reservation of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians;
and WHEREAS, illegal drug use and trafficking within the Tri-County area has also resulted in additional costs to individuals, families and communities, including psychological harm, unemployment, disease and other health problems, stress, domestic violence, elder abuse and neglect, child abuse and neglect, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, as well as overburdened health care and criminal justice systems;
and WHEREAS, the Counties of Iron, Oneida and Vilas and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians recognize that the drug epidemic knows no boundaries, and that collaboration and coordination are critical to stemming the influx of illegal drugs into our region and ameliorating the tragic consequences of illegal drug abuse; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that _____________ County supports the creation of, and will participate in, a Tri-County/Tribal Controlled Substance Response Committee which shall have, as an initial focus, the task of ascertaining and evaluating regional controlled substance response strategies, practices, resources, strengths, deficiencies, and barriers, for the purpose of coordinating a comprehensive intergovernmental response to the drug epidemic and creating safer communities within our region;
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tri-County/Tribal Controlled Substance Response Committee shall be comprised of two (2) representatives from each of the Counties of Iron, Oneida, and Vilas and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, including at least one (1) County Board or Tribal Council member from each said entity; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tri-County/Tribal Controlled Substance Response Committee shall develop an action plan and periodically report to the governing bodies of the respective member entities.
Adoption moved by Board Member __________________________________. Seconded by Board Member ________________________________________. Resolution declared adopted this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
