Poverty and Aboriginal Street Gangs

Poverty is a sad reality that has impacted Aboriginal peoples for many generations. One cause of poverty for the Indigenous peoples is colonization. The arrival of the European settlers disturbed the way of life for the Aboriginal peoples (Brown, Higgitt, Wingert, Miller, Williams, & Morrissette, 2004). The Canadian social policy created institutions attempting to eliminate and destroy the Aboriginal worldview and values (Menzies, 2008). As a result their culture was destroyed. The Indian Act of 1876 caused segregation of the Aboriginal peoples on reserves outside of their community. There was hierarchy and decisions made by authorities not reflecting Aboriginal values and practices. A second key element in the Aboriginal ideology was residential schools. Many Aboriginal children were removed from their homes and were placed in a boarding school situation with the goal of assimilation, segregation, and integration into the Canadian way of life attempting to eliminate their culture. The children experienced abuse and lost their language, culture, customs, and spiritual beliefs becoming like the dominant society. They lost a feeling of belonging to their family, community and nation. When the schools started to close child welfare removed children from their homes and placed them in foster care. Residential schools played an important role in the cycle of trauma for Indigenous peoples. The impact experienced had consequences for future generations as there was a cycle of abuse and dysfunction that is still continuing today (Menzies, 2008).

The Aboriginal medicine wheel contains the four elements of Aboriginal life. They are the individual, family, community and nation. The influence of the public policies (i.e. residential schools) disrupted the interaction of the system which resulted in trauma and disruption. As a consequence of the intergenerational trauma the four elements are not able to support each other and there is disconnect from their cultural group. This policy destroyed the connections of the Aboriginal peoples and had implications for the other elements. Healing requires a holistic approach that rebuilds the connections between the individual, family, community and nation (Menzies, 2008).

Policies and programs are needed to lessen poverty and help Aboriginal peoples. They need to be made to include specific subgroups such as Aboriginal peoples (Hay, 2009). The government needs to implement policies and programs that work from an Indigenous perspective and consider the impact of the policy on them. The effect of colonization needs to be considered when making future policies. The programs must include healing as illustrated by the medicine wheel at the levels of the individual, community, family and nation.

In Winnipeg’s inner city some Aboriginal youth have been involved in street gangs and violence which is a result of poverty and racism (Comack, Deane, Morrissette, & Silver, 2010). Many of them have been in jail. They are victims of the intergenerational violence growing up in circumstances of neglect, abuse and violence. This is a collective community problem because gangs are a consequence of the problem of poverty and other negative circumstances in which the youth grew up. Therefore, change must come from the knowledge and insight of those within the community (Comack, Deane, Morrissette, & Silver, 2009). This is consistent with the Aboriginal view of social change. It depends on dialogue with others in the community to see its effect on future generations and the change should contribute to social and environmental well being. Balance and harmony need to occur (Morrissette, 2006). There were a variety of programs implemented for the youth with an Aboriginal perspective. One of the alternatives used to bring about change are the programs that provided the youth with job experience and helped them re-enter into society. This gave the youth an opportunity, increased self esteem and a chance to help rebuild the community (Comack et al., 2009). The Ogijita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin is a community program in the North End which worked with Aboriginal gang members to teach construction skills by renovating houses. This gives the participants a sense of dignity as they are able to give back to others in the community. Other skills include immersion in Aboriginal culture to learn about their identity and culture. In order for there to be change in the community an investment in the inner city must be important to the government. Therefore, they need to invest in ways to help solve the problem of street gangs by creating more community recreation centers or drop in centers. A primary and pivotal alternative that needs to be made is the family and community needs to be strengthened and rebuilt in order to prevent gang activity. This would include strengthening extended family ties, promoting collective sharing and encouraging them to work to contribute to the wellbeing of the community (Comack et al., 2009). In order for change and healing to happen holistic healing needs to take place. The programs used to assist inner city youth involved in gangs represented the Aboriginal perspective because each person works to support the survival of the community. People live together and there is a collective responsibility for the health and wellbeing of society (Morrissette, 2006). This program is working towards the healing of the individual, family, community and Aboriginal nation which are the elements of the medicine wheel.

The events in the Indigenous peoples past that led to poverty are tragic and disheartening. The Aboriginal perspective is a holistic ideology that focuses on community building and holistic healing. I agree with the idea of working together in a collective manner to create social change and the importance of how the community is responsible as a whole for the wellbeing of society. I think it is important to include the individual, family, community and Aboriginal nation in the process of healing for a healthy environment. I like how they view the problem as one that is seen in the community and not just the individual. In order for change and healing to occur you need to change and promote healing in all four elements of the medicine wheel. One way to do this is to implement programs and policies that are from an Aboriginal perspective.

Lori

References

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responsibility: building healthy communities in Winnipeg’s north end. Social Sciences and Hummanities Research Council of Canada. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://ius.uwinnipeg.ca/pdf/wira_healthy_communities.pdf

Comack, E., Deane, L., Morrissette, L., & Silver, J. (2009). If you want to change violence in the hood,

you have to change the hood: violence and street gangs in Winnipeg’s inner city. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from

http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Manitoba_Pubs/2009/Violence_and_Street_Gangs_091009.pdf

Comack, E., Deane, L., Morrissette, L., & Silver, J. (2010). If you want to change violence in the hood

you have to change the hood. Retrieved from http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2817/

Hay, D. (2009). Poverty reduction policies and programs. Canadian Council on Social Development.

Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://www.ccsd.ca/Reports/Canada_Report_FINAL.pdf

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Morrissette, V. (2006). Towards an Aboriginal perspective that addresses ideological domination in

social policy analysis. Implications for social work p. 162-189. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.