Aboriginal Based Organized Crime
Encyclopedia
Aboriginal-based organized crime is a term used to refer to Canadian
criminal organizations with a high, statistically significant percentage of Aboriginal members. These organizations are primarily found in the prairie provinces - geographical areas which statistically hold a higher concentration of persons of Aboriginal descent. Aboriginal Based Organized Crime is unique and is defined distinctly by the Government of Canada
.
.
Less Sophisticated, More Violent: ABOC groups typically demonstrate less sophistication than other organized crime groups. Their members are usually younger, less educated and poorer than members of other organized crime groups. They are, however, very willing to use violence to achieve their aims. "Aboriginal-based street gangs are generally involved in opportunistic, spontaneous and disorganized street-level criminal activities, primarily low-level trafficking of marihuana, cocaine and crack cocaine and, to a lesser extent, methamphetamine. The gangs are also involved in prostitution, break-and-enters, robberies, assaults, intimidation, vehicle theft and illicit drug debt collection."
Aboriginal Recruitment: Recruitment typically takes place from Aboriginal populations in larger centres, correctional facilities and from First Nations
.
has seen an all-Aboriginal school board recommended in the face of increased gang involvement by Aboriginal youth. These schools are viewed as a means of increasing respect for traditional Aboriginal values while giving youth the opportunity to avoid involvement in gangs. There is caution toward such strategies due to the fear that these schools - purely as an anti-crime initiative - will lead to ghettoization. The thought of creating an Aboriginal school system struck some as reeking of segregation
. Similar initiatives have been discussed in Saskatchewan, leading to a recommendation by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
in late 2009.
The original branch of the Warriors, they are a street gang that is distinct from other Aboriginal gangs in that it is largely made up of adults. It was founded in 1992 and by 2000 had had over 400 members serve. They are identified by the colour black and white and are traditionally enemies of the Hells Angels
.
Alberta Warriors
The Alberta chapter of the Warriors gang arose after individuals from Alberta spent time in a Manitoba correctional facility in 1997. Their colour is alternatively stated to be black and white. According to the Calgary Herald, "the Alberta Warriors are most active in Edmonton, but maintain a relatively low profile" Rivals include the other ABOCs, the Bloods
and the small Asian Crazy Dragons whom are mainly active in the prisons.
Homos Warriors
A nomad chapter with no main base. They have highprofile members who are directly linked to the original Winnipeg Chapter. They are known to be associated with the criminal elite of the West Coast and they have members in Vancouver .
Saskatchewan Warriors
The Saskatchewan Warriors were an offshoot of the Manitoba chapter of the Warriors. A special unit was set up in Regina to stop the Manitoba Warriors from setting up a chapter in that city. The unit took a very directive approach toward stopping the gang from setting up anything formidable in Saskatchewan.
gang, it was formed in 1994 and is still active. It's Canada-wide, but more members are in Saskatchewan
and Manitoba
. The number of members are unknown. They utilize a Mafia
style organizational structure but otherwise invoke Aboriginal imagery. Their official colours are white and black, but they wear a white bandanna. Their tattoos often resemble “\Z\” (symbolizing "NS", or "Native Syndicate"), marked between the thumb and index finger. They are at odds with most other gangs in the region.
street gang
set in Western Canada
based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first recorded incident from the gang took place in 1988.
Originally, they were mainly active in Lac La Biche, Alberta and known as a high threat gang.
The Indian Posse was featured in the fictional film Stryker
by Noam Gonick
which presents a positive portrayal of the gang "armies of resistance” to poverty and other problems. The film dealt with conflicts with the rival gang the now-defunct Asian Bomb Squad. The main character was referred to as “Stryker” a slang term for prospective recruits.
One of the alleged founders of the Indian Posse, Daniel Richard Wolfe, was murdered in the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary
on 5 January 2010.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
criminal organizations with a high, statistically significant percentage of Aboriginal members. These organizations are primarily found in the prairie provinces - geographical areas which statistically hold a higher concentration of persons of Aboriginal descent. Aboriginal Based Organized Crime is unique and is defined distinctly by the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
.
Unique features of Aboriginal gangs
Support and Facilitation: ABOC-classified organizations typically support and facilitate the actions of other, usually larger organized crime groups such as the Hells AngelsHells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
.
Less Sophisticated, More Violent: ABOC groups typically demonstrate less sophistication than other organized crime groups. Their members are usually younger, less educated and poorer than members of other organized crime groups. They are, however, very willing to use violence to achieve their aims. "Aboriginal-based street gangs are generally involved in opportunistic, spontaneous and disorganized street-level criminal activities, primarily low-level trafficking of marihuana, cocaine and crack cocaine and, to a lesser extent, methamphetamine. The gangs are also involved in prostitution, break-and-enters, robberies, assaults, intimidation, vehicle theft and illicit drug debt collection."
Aboriginal Recruitment: Recruitment typically takes place from Aboriginal populations in larger centres, correctional facilities and from First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
.
Criminal activities
There is confusion about how to properly intervene in preventing the growth of these gangs. One approach in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
has seen an all-Aboriginal school board recommended in the face of increased gang involvement by Aboriginal youth. These schools are viewed as a means of increasing respect for traditional Aboriginal values while giving youth the opportunity to avoid involvement in gangs. There is caution toward such strategies due to the fear that these schools - purely as an anti-crime initiative - will lead to ghettoization. The thought of creating an Aboriginal school system struck some as reeking of segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. Similar initiatives have been discussed in Saskatchewan, leading to a recommendation by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is a Saskatchewan-based First Nations organization.The federation grew out of a number of different organizations. Although the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians was organized in 1959 , it grew out of the Union of Saskatchewan Indians, founded...
in late 2009.
Warriors
Manitoba WarriorsThe original branch of the Warriors, they are a street gang that is distinct from other Aboriginal gangs in that it is largely made up of adults. It was founded in 1992 and by 2000 had had over 400 members serve. They are identified by the colour black and white and are traditionally enemies of the Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
.
Alberta Warriors
The Alberta chapter of the Warriors gang arose after individuals from Alberta spent time in a Manitoba correctional facility in 1997. Their colour is alternatively stated to be black and white. According to the Calgary Herald, "the Alberta Warriors are most active in Edmonton, but maintain a relatively low profile" Rivals include the other ABOCs, the Bloods
Bloods
The Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
and the small Asian Crazy Dragons whom are mainly active in the prisons.
Homos Warriors
A nomad chapter with no main base. They have highprofile members who are directly linked to the original Winnipeg Chapter. They are known to be associated with the criminal elite of the West Coast and they have members in Vancouver .
Saskatchewan Warriors
The Saskatchewan Warriors were an offshoot of the Manitoba chapter of the Warriors. A special unit was set up in Regina to stop the Manitoba Warriors from setting up a chapter in that city. The unit took a very directive approach toward stopping the gang from setting up anything formidable in Saskatchewan.
Redd Alert
Redd Alert is an Aboriginal street gang active mainly in Edmonton, Alberta and Regina, Saskatchewan, as well as a presence in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was "founded" in the mid 1990s but was not largely active until 2005. They wear red bandanas and have a presence across institutions in the prairies.Native Syndicate
Native Syndicate is an aboriginalAboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
gang, it was formed in 1994 and is still active. It's Canada-wide, but more members are in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. The number of members are unknown. They utilize a Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
style organizational structure but otherwise invoke Aboriginal imagery. Their official colours are white and black, but they wear a white bandanna. Their tattoos often resemble “\Z\” (symbolizing "NS", or "Native Syndicate"), marked between the thumb and index finger. They are at odds with most other gangs in the region.
Indian Posse
Indian Posse, also known as the IP, is an aboriginalAboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
street gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
set in Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first recorded incident from the gang took place in 1988.
Originally, they were mainly active in Lac La Biche, Alberta and known as a high threat gang.
The Indian Posse was featured in the fictional film Stryker
Stryker (film)
Stryker is a 2004 fictional film by Noam Gonick about gang violence in Winnipeg's North End. It follows a 14-year-old arsonist who becomes involved in a turf war between the Indian Posse and the Asian Bomb Squad . He is known only as Stryker, a slang term for a prospective gang member...
by Noam Gonick
Noam Gonick
Noam Gonick RCA is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and artist.The son of radical Marxist and former Manitoba MLA Cy Gonick, Noam supplemented his formal film education by studying directors Guy Maddin and Bruce LaBruce. His survey of Maddin's life and work became the documentary Waiting...
which presents a positive portrayal of the gang "armies of resistance” to poverty and other problems. The film dealt with conflicts with the rival gang the now-defunct Asian Bomb Squad. The main character was referred to as “Stryker” a slang term for prospective recruits.
One of the alleged founders of the Indian Posse, Daniel Richard Wolfe, was murdered in the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary
Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary
The Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary is classified as a Medium Security Facility with Maximum Security areas. It is located on a walled 20-acre parcel of land one kilometre west of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada...
on 5 January 2010.