WHITEFISH RIVER FIRST NATION—A planned November community referendum on the sale of cannabis products in Whitefish River First Nation (WRFN) territory was postponed to a later date yet to be determined, confirmed WRFN Chief Rodney Nahwegahbow.
The community has held a number of referendums over the course of the intervening years since the legalization of cannabis, declining each time to approve the sale of such products within the reserve.
Community member Greg Sutherland postulated that the decision to decline to allow such sales was based in large part on the number of young families in the community and concerns over large numbers of strangers entering the community, particularly during the pandemic, and growing concerns over rising drug problems being experienced in many communities across the country.
