The officer in charge of the Battlefords RCMP says multiple people from Red Pheasant Cree Nation nearly died this weekend because of the presence of drugs. The Cree Nation has declared a state of emergency after eight overdoses. None were fatal.

Inspector Jesse Gilbert says the detachment is working collaboratively with local leadership and health services. There will be an increased police presence in the area. Gilbert urges anyone who knows something to come forward, but also realizes it can be scary to contact the police, so he notes that reporting information through Crime Stoppers is anonymous.

It’s not known at this point what the drugs were because testing is under way, but Gilbert says patrol officers seized drugs resembling opaque, rock-like candy, and has been referred to as ‘flakka’. The Battlefords RCMP Gang Task Force and General Investigation Sections and the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Crime Reduction Team are helping out with this investigation.