What is a Gang? - Native Women's Association of Canada Website

What do the following groups have in common?• Saskatchewan Warriors• Indian Posse• Native Syndicate• Redd Alert• Crazy Cree• Mixed Bloods• Tribal Brotherz• Manitoba WarriorsThese are just a few of the Aboriginalgangs operating in Canada. Some of themare combinations of Aboriginal and others,such as: the Crips, Bloods, etc. Althoughmany of the Aboriginal gangs are locatedin the western provinces, the establishedgangs are moving into other provinces andterritories.Many have very specific membership,initiation and removal procedures.Although the ages range from 16 to 35years, these gangs have been known torecruit children that are younger than12 years of age.How to tell if gangs are enteringyour community:Gangs just don’t show up in the communityone day. They establish themselves overtime. Signs that a gang may be operating inyour community are:• Increased gang-specific graffiti inthe neighbourhoods• Increase in groups of unknown peopleloitering in the neighbourhoods• Increase in suspected narcotics activity• Gang colours and signs in thecommunity area and schools• Increase in community fear andwitnesses are reluctant to talkto police.• Increased crime, especiallyviolent crimeSo who are they recruiting?It starts with a false friendship and apromise of a better life. A sponsorshipthat promises to get you into a life of moremoney, more prestige, more things, andmore bling then you can imagine. You mayend up with more money but there is a costand that cost is your freedom. Join a gangand the gang owns and controls you.Established gang members recruit fornew gang members in schools, on thestreet, while confined in detention, in fastfood restaurants and their parking lots, atparties, in prison, at concerts and familyget-togethers (many recruits are the littlebrothers and sisters of established gangmembers), and anywhere else they mayfind potential members.Although most gangs are predominatelymale, they do recruit adolescentAboriginal females intoprostitution.Females whoparticipate in gangsare often treated as sexslaves, and have been involvedin secondary activities such as lookingout for police and carryingweapons and drugs formale gang members.– BC Centre for Safe Schoolsand Communities.pg. 2 Aboriginal Gang Violence - The Facts

“Some women do earn power by association. Tammy’s ex-boyfriendwas one of Redd Alert’s ‘top dogs.’ She ‘sold dope and beat up peopleif they owed money,’ and for a brief period, had the fur coat, the‘family,’ and the cash, but left because she grew tired of doing time.”–Maclean Magazine April 16, 2009Gang leaders and members are looking forvulnerable Aboriginal youth who:• Have dropped out or having difficultyin school.• Want to belong and may be feeling peerpressure from family or friends to jointhe gang.• Are looking for recognition.• Have a troubled family life in whichthere maybe substance or sexual abuseinside the home and are looking for asurrogate family.• Have substance or alcohol addictions.• Are easily intimidated.• Require protection from domestic/physical/sexual or psychologicalviolence.• Have low self-esteem or self-worth and,have a sense of helplessness.• Is experiencing poverty and live inhigh risk neighbourhoods.• Are unemployed and lackingemployment opportunities.• Believe the media glorification of thegang lifestyle and are unaware of theconsequences of joining a gang.• Have aggressive and hostile behaviourstoward people in authority.Why females join gangs...Most females don’t wake up one day anddecide to join a gang. Some join for love:their boyfriend is in a gang, and manybelieve their boyfriends will love themmore if they join their gang. Some areraised in gang-affiliated homes and theirfamilies expect them to become members.Getting In...Getting outOnce you have passed the sponsorshipmarker of a particular gang’s membershipcode you are now required to undergoan initiation ceremony to demonstrateyour loyalty. Before you can gain entranceinto a gang you are called a “recruit” or a“striker” depending on the gang.For some females whose boyfriendor family member is in the gang, thisinitiation ceremony is sometimes bypassedand they are “blessed-in” which meansthey must simply pledge an allegiance and/or receive a tattoo or other marking. Forfemales recruited by the gang, they areusually subjected to very abusive forms ofinitiation similar to their male counterpartssuch as:• The recruit must commit a crimefor the gang or recruit another femaleto prostitute for the gang.• The recruit must demonstrate thatthey have a criminal record. The moreconvictions equate more respect andhigher status within the gang.• The final phase of the initiation ritual isthe “beating in” or “jumping in” process.In this the recruit must endure a beatingor punching sessions from the othergang members. You cannot cry. Youcannot scream or fall down. You mustdemonstrate that you are tough enoughfor the gang. For some female recruitsthey must be “sexed-in” which means agang rape in which the stigma of being asex toy to the gang is difficult to shed.

Getting In... Getting Out (continued)Depending on the gang getting out may bedifficult or easy. In some cases, you changeyour friends, walk away and start makinghealthy choices such as:• Going back to school.• Getting counselling for substanceaddictions.• Going back to traditional teachings.In other cases, it may be very difficult toleave a gang. In some gangs, membershipis for life and the only way out is death.Others gangs require a member to be“beaten out” before they are allowed toleave. This is a process where the exitingmember is assaulted to the point of severeinjury or death by other members ofthe gang. Sometimes in order to ensurethe protection of not only you but alsoyour family, you may need to work withcommunity agencies, the police, familymembers, etc. to assist you in exitinga gang. In some instances, you may berequired to move to another community.“Female Aboriginalsare often tradedamong gangmembers and aspart of theirinitiation, aremade to have sexwith numerousgang membersat the same time.”– Dr. Mark TottenCP ReleaseMarch 16, 2010The MythGang life is glamorous.A gang is like family.A gang will protect you.By being a member of a gangpeople will respect you.You can leave a gangany time you want.Sexual trafficking isprostitution or sex work.Having a boyfriend whois a gang member willprotect me.A gang will provide youwith money, prestige, drugs,alcohol, sex and senseof belonging.The TruthThere is nothing glamorous aboutlosing your individuality and beingcontrolled. More gang membersdie from suicide and overdosescompared to homicide.As a gang member you are requiredto sacrifice your individuality forthe gang. They are not your familyand do not have your best interest inmind.It depends on your status andusefulness to the gang. At any pointyou can become expendable. In thecrossfire of a turf war, bullets do notdiscriminate.Using fear and intimidation doesnot bring you respect.Once you become a gang member itcan be extremely difficult to get out.Sexual trafficking is a form ofslavery which involves the uses ofthreat, force and deception.Not necessarily, many personalrelationships with gang membersend in sexual exploitation, forcedprostitution and sexual trafficking.A boyfriend who expects you tosleep with other guys doesn’trespect you and puts you at risk ofsexually transmitted diseases suchas HIV/AIDS.You may end with more money andbling but you end up paying with theloss of your freedom and ultimatelyyour life.pg. 4 Aboriginal Gang Violence - The Facts

How to tell if your friend is at risk of becominginvolved in Gang life...Although not all of these behaviours areindicators that someone you know may beinvolved in a gang, they are signals thatthey are making some unhealthy choices.• Unexplained injuries such as bruises, cutsor broken bones• Staying out late• Skipping or quitting school• Secrecy about new friends• Abrupt negative changes in personalitysuch as aggression or anger• Preference for single colour clothing• Family problems• Graffiti on personal items such asnotebooks or bedroom walls• Tattoos or markings of gang symbolson hands or body• Unexplained new possessions or money• Frequent contact with the police orother authority figures• Carrying weapons such as gunsand knives• Doing drugs and drinkingAlternatives to Joining a GangYou Can:• Participate in sports or the drama clubat school.• Volunteer for something thatinterests you.• Hang out at your community orIndian Friendship centre.• Stay in school! You will be thankful later.• Get a summer or part-time job. Earningyour money legitimately builds your selfconfidence.• Participate in traditional teachings.• Hang out with people who are makinghealthy choices in the life.• Connect with your Elders withinthe communityYou Can also prevent gang recruitmentin your community by:• Encouraging your friends to take partin positive activities• Being careful not to copy gang clothing,symbols and tattoos• Building positive relationships andpatterns of interaction with mentorsand pro-social peers.• Promoting social and economic policiesthat support positive youth developmentNative Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) pg. 5

Check out the following YouTube clips if youwant an inside view:Noam Gonick film from 2005 onAboriginal Gangs: Stryker is the story of abrutal turf war between two street gangs inWinnipeg’s North End. This film followsone Stryker (Kyle Henry), a 14-year-oldNative arsonist from a northern reservewhose arrival in the city serves as a catalystin this fierce turf battle.www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnfTcg_diPURich Canadian Reserve Becomes a GangWar Zone (Part 1 of 2) is another videoclip depicting life in the communityof Hobbema and the effects of oildevelopment.Part One: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGckY1mGnNE&feature=relatedPart Two: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbHWjSxMxkA&feature=relatedTheStar.com: Alberta town struggleswith gangs and violence is a video clipdealing with the problems of gangs andthe community of Hobbema.www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfYPXOtAX_s&feature=fvwrelNative Women’sAssociation of Canada1 Nicholas Street,Suite 900,Ottawa, OntarioK1N 7B7T: 613-722-3033T: 1800-461-4043F: 613-722-7687www.nwac.capg. 6 Aboriginal Gang Violence - The Facts