Chief in Łutselk'e, N.W.T., says community should consider banishing bootleggers

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-08-29 13:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Justice, Public Safety, Governance]

Chief James Marlowe of the Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation in the Northwest Territories is proposing a community banishment law to counter a rise in illegal bootlegging and alcohol-related harms affecting the dry community. The proposed law, which requires approval by First Nation members at a scheduled meeting on September 29, aims to remove non-compliant members or outside bootleggers for one to two years. Legal experts note that while trespass laws can apply to non-members, banishing First Nation members requires strict adherence to internal rules and the Indian Act or modern treaties to withstand court challenges.