Tŝilhqot’in Nation calls for action around the toxic drug crisis on the global stage – The Peak
June 9, 2025
They want to combat the growing healthcare crisis with Indigenous-led solutions
On April 24, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, a delegation from the Tŝilhqot’in Nation presented a plan to combat the toxic drug crisis within their six member communities. This initiative follows the Nation’s declaration of a local state of emergency in April 2024, prompted by a surge in overdose-related deaths.
The First Nations Health Authority reported that in 2024, 427 First Nation members in BC died due to toxic drug overdoses. This figure represents an average death rate 6.7 times higher than that of other provincial residents, marking the largest disparity since the province declared a public health emergency over toxic drugs in 2016. Sierra William, Tŝilhqot’in Nation Youth ambassador, highlighted the crisis as a continuation of historical challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples, including the impacts of residential schools and past epidemics.
