Last Updated Fri Dec 13 19:13:59 2002
The new community in Natuashish has about 130 new homes, a new school and other new buildings, costing $152 million and paid for by the federal government.
The government and the people of Davis Inlet are hoping the move will allow the nearly 700 Innu to get away from their past of gas sniffing and suicide.
Luke Rich, while touring his new home in Natuashish, said there's a reason there aren't many gas sniffers in Davis Inlet anymore.
"The reason you're not seeing kids out there anymore with gas bags in their mouths is because they transfer all their addictions to drugs. Most of them are very heavily into drugs," said Rich.
Desmond Rich, Luke's son, and his girlfriend Lisa Tshakapesh were heavy gas sniffers two years ago. They say they quit after several friends nearly died.
They said most young people have stopped sniffing gas.
"Kids are doing drugs now. Marijuana, 50 bucks a gram. That's it," he said.
Tshakapesh said the young people are turning to alcohol, as their parents have, or to marijuana. And she said there isn't much anyone can do to stop the substance abuse.
"The police don't know when people bring booze and some marijuana," she said.
Rich and Tshakapesh admit they're abusing alcohol now and that moving into a new home built by the government isn't likely to change that.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Copyright © 2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
See earlier report: