Poverty fuelling rise in aboriginal gang activity: expert

from the CBC

Poverty and substance abuse are fuelling the rise of aboriginal gang activity in Western Canada and the problem is only going to get worse over the next 10 years, an expert on youth gangs says.

Mark Totten of the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa told a police symposium in Surrey, B.C., Thursday that an increase in gang activity will be driven in the next few years by racism and the absence of social programs.

"The depth of poverty is just so deep for many of these kids,'' said Totten, who has been hired by the British Columbia government to guide the province in dealing with youth gangs.

He said the makeup of gangs is changing as a result of a population explosion in the aboriginal community.

"Within the next five to 10 years, we're going to again see a very, very different face in gang members in the western provinces and B.C., and that's because there is going to be more aboriginal young men."

Totten said racism and poverty equal more aboriginal youth in gangs.

Harry Killoran joined an Asian gang when he was 15. His arm is tattooed with skulls and wolves. The word "Vengeance" is written across his bicep.

"Our gang was mostly Oriental right and we fought like different ethnic gangs, and yes, I was the FOB [fresh off the boat] Asian kid. I couldn't speak English."

Now, at the age of 20, Killoran is making a film on gangs as a part of a youth program.

Totten said cash needs to be channelled into child care, young mothers living in poverty and antiracism programs to root out problems where they begin.