Organized Crime Report: Aboriginal Gang Violence in Canada (SCIU)

This Intelligence Bulletin from the Seneca College Intelligence and Analytical Unit (SCIU) addresses the escalating issue of organized crime and violence among Aboriginal youth gangs in Canada. The report highlights the increasing threat to public safety and the involvement of Aboriginal youth in these gangs. It provides background information on the nature of these gangs, including their activities, territories, and the high percentage of Aboriginal members within the Canadian criminal landscape. The bulletin examines the current situation, noting the rise of Aboriginal gangs surpassing other organized crime groups in federal prisons and the wide range of crimes committed. Through analysis, the report explores the unique forms of violence exhibited by these gangs, including internalized violence such as drug overdose and suicide. The bulletin concludes with recommendations, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches, collaboration, sustained support, and community capacity-building to effectively address this complex issue. It also references key legislation and research materials.

SENECA COLLEGE
INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYTICAL UNIT
INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Organized crimes of recent violence including
aboriginal street gangs in Canada.
ISSUE
The Seneca College Intelligence and
Analytical Unit (SCIU) working jointly with the
Seneca College Police aims for the investigation of
the increase of organized crimes of violence led by
the indigenous and aboriginal youth gangs in
Canada. The growth of these gangs can be seen to
be a serious threat towards the public and to the
aboriginal youths becoming part of these gangs.
BACKGROUND
The criminal organizations in Canada that
can be seen to have a significant percentage of
Aboriginal members are referred to as the
‘aboriginal-based organized crime’. These gangs
can be described as ‘visible hardcore groups
coming together either for profit-driven criminal
activities or for the purpose of severe violence’.
The members of the gangs are identified by way of
their gang-specific clothes, tattoos or other
accessories and can be seen to be marking their
territories with graffities. As per a police report in
2004 it was seen that although the Aboriginal street
gangs are not highly organized like the other
criminal gangs operating in Canada, however these
gangs can be seen to be among the most violent
gangs operating in Canada. As of 2005 there were
over 1000 aboriginal youths who have joined
various aboriginal gangs. These gangs can mostly
be found to be conducting their operations
primarily in the regions of the Prairie Provinces
where a higher population of Aboriginal people are
situated. Almost twenty two percent of the entire
criminal gang population in Canada consists of
aboriginal members.
CURRENT SITUATION
As of 2018 with almost 1936 members
serving sentence the aboriginal gangs have been
seen to be surpassing the Italian organized crime
syndicates and the outlaw motorcycle gangs to be
the largest single group that had been held in the
federal prisons. These gangs can be seen to be
committing a wide variety of crimes that include
harassments of both sexual and non-sexual
crimes, drug trafficking, weapon procurement,
vehicle theft, intimidation, prostitution, robbery,
extortion, assault and homicides.
ANALYSIS
As per many researches that have been
conducted on the growth of youth gang crimes in
Canada it was found that the form of violence
committed by the aboriginal youth gangs are
comparatively different from the violence
exhibited by other youth gangs that operate in
Canada. As per the data gathered by various
projects based on the aboriginal gangs in Canada
it can be seen that the rate of internalized violence
among the aboriginal youths are way higher than
the externalized violent crimes committed by the .
the internalized behaviours can be seen to be
including drug overdose, suicide and self-harm.
The key-motivator for these types of violence can
be recognized as the hatred for one’s own self.
Although published data for this type of violence
cannot easily be found but there are data from
certain projects that are seen to be suggesting that
most aboriginal youth gang members are found to

SENECA COLLEGE
INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYTICAL UNIT
INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Organized crimes of recent violence including
aboriginal street gangs in Canada.
be dying because of suicide or drug overdose in
comparison to homicide.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Aboriginal youth gangs can be seen to
be potentially serious problems that are needed
to be dealt in tactful manner. The
implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice
Act 2002 can be seen to be changing the way
youth crimes have been dealt in Canada.
Although there have been various
approaches taken to suppress the gangs all of
those have proven to be ineffective. These
strategies include gang-suppression programs,
curriculum-based prevention programs,
community development approaches,
incarceration of the gang members, child
welfare models and traditional detached-
worker programs. All of the above mentioned
strategies were seen to be ineffective and are
needed to be stopped as soon as possible.
The strategies that are seen to be
working are the evidence based approaches
including collaboration and problem solving
partnerships, adequate and sustained supports
and resources, development and sustainment
of community capacity, concentrating
investments on highest needs and public
engagement.
REFERENCES:
White, J. P., & Bruhn, J. (Eds.).
(2010). Aboriginal Policy
Research, V. 8, Exploring the
Urban Landscape. Thompson
Educational Pub.
Youth Criminal Justice Act 2002
Dunbar, L. K. (2017). Youth gangs in
Canada: A review of current
topics and issues. Public Safety
Canada= Sécurité publique
Canada.
Grekul, J., & LaBoucane-Benson, P.
(2008). Aboriginal gangs and
their (dis) placement:
Contextualizing recruitment,
membership, and
status. Canadian Journal of
Criminology and Criminal
Justice, 50(1), 59-82.