The Ross River Dena Council has passed a band council resolution declaring a state of emergency within Ross River’s territory.

The declaration says three separate issues have prompted the move:

the April 21 disappearance of Ramona Peter, a council citizen;

individuals who are entering the village to traffic drugs and to bootleg alcohol; and

a black bear that’s been wandering through the community for the past several weeks, putting citizens at risk.

“These are serious and life-threatening issues,” Chief Dylan Loblaw said Friday afternoon.

“Ross River Dena Council desperately needs help from the Government of Yukon. The search for Ramona Peter is imperative. We will not stop looking for her. We will not give up on her,” Loblaw said.

The council is not satisfied with the extent of the search, which has involved the RCMP and search and rescue personnel.

Peter, 40, was last seen outside the Ross River general store. Family members have said it’s completely out of character for her to be absent without notifying them.

“We call on Yukon Premier Ranji Pillai to provide immediate assistance as we continue to search for our beloved sister, including human and financial resources,” Loblaw said.

Meanwhile, he continued, “Our community is besieged by drug dealers and bootleggers who creep into our town under cover of night, preying on vulnerable people,” he said.

These activities are seriously harming residents’ health and social relations, he said.

“We will not allow this predatory behaviour to continue. We have a clear message for those individuals who are destroying the lives of our people: Ross River is not open for business. Stay out.”

The emergency resolution says the council will “take all steps necessary” to prevent people entering the community to sell drugs and alcohol.”

The bear, meanwhile, has been wandering through the community for the last several weeks.

A Yukon government conservation officer from Faro set up a bear trap early in May, but the bruin has not been captured.

“The Yukon government has a legal obligation to trap and relocate this bear,” Loblaw said.

“It’s an obvious risk to the safety of people in Ross River, particularly our children and elders. We need the Yukon government to take this seriously and do their job.”

The area has endured insufficient conservation officer services for some time, the chief maintains.

The combined impact of these issues is hugely difficult for the First Nation, he added.

“Ross River is struggling to cope. We are a very small First Nation with limited resources.

“We beseech the Yukon and federal governments to help us. We cannot do this alone.”

On Friday afternoon, the Star asked cabinet communications staff for a response to the First Nation’s concerns.

No information was provided by deadline early this afternoon.