As many prominent scholars have postulated, there is very little research addressing the multifaceted dynamics with respect to Aboriginal gang involvement from a Canadian perspective. This paper intends to advance the understanding of the pathways involved in Aboriginal gang formation, recruitment and participation by critically examining the historical and institutional impediments, which have contributed to the facilitation of this phenomenon. In the process, this paper will apply the foremost tenets of social control theory in order to provide a holistic account of the context that enables the proliferation of Aboriginal gangs within Canada. Correspondingly, the formulation of these results will subsequently be useful for policy-makers and others who hope to find solutions to the challenges associated with the paramount issue of Aboriginal overrepresentation, an epidemic that the Supreme Court of Canada has referred to as, “a crisis in the Canadian justice system” (Rudin 2005, 1). With this intention, social control theory will be utilized in order to explain how colonialism manifests itself contemporarily, resulting in the inhibition of the internalization of conventional societal bonds for Aboriginal youth and the consequent perpetuation of Aboriginal gangs. Social Control Theory: Hirschi’s social control theory has been pervasively used to explain the occurrence of gangs and specifically gang membership. However, rather than focusing solely on why individuals choose to become involved in criminal behaviour including organized crime, Hirschi begins his analysis by asking, “Why do most persons conform to societal norms?” (Abadinsky 2010, 25). Consequently, according to Hirschi individuals choose to engage in delinquent behavi... ... middle of paper ... ...een family problems, address the lack of appropriate education initiatives, progress the development of adequate employment opportunities, and alleviate problematic self-conceptions of cultural identity are realistic endeavors, which support cooperative relationships across cultures. Fostering these circumstances through engagement that warrants features of social bonding to be achieved by providing support in a way that does not minimize the experience of Aboriginal oppression will facilitate positive social change. This results in the possibility of ameliorating the complex injustices experienced by Aboriginal peoples today that are entrenched in the conditions of the past. Ultimately, these positive advancements will enable the adoption of pro-social values and solidify an environment that subsequently inhibits Aboriginal youth from resorting to gang involvement.
It is the belief of first nations that the healing process and renewal of relationships are the essential ingredients for the building of healthy First Nations communities. First nations realize that the current justice process does not address the real issues at hand nor does it fit into their traditional forms of achieving justice. In fact, the current justice process systematically removes the offenders from their people and communities effectively severing all ties and ...
Aboriginal people groups depended on an assortment of unmistakable approaches to sort out their political frameworks and establishments prior to contact with Europeans. Later, a considerable amount of these establishments were overlooked or legitimately stifled while the national government endeavored to force a uniform arrangement of limitlessly distinctive Euro-Canadian political goals on Aboriginal social orders. For some Aboriginal people groups, self-government is seen as an approach to recover control over the administration of matters that straightforwardly influence them and to safeguard their social characters. Self-government is alluded to as an inherent right, a previous right established in Aboriginal people groups' long occupation
al, 2015; Hoffman, 2003). It suggests that interaction with others teaches individuals certain values and attitudes. Youth may encounter those that engage in problem behaviors, thus they have a greater risk to become involved in that same behavior because they have learned the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behaviors (Monahan, Rhew, Hawkins, & et. al, 2013). Peer groups are suppose to regulate peer group activity when there is a lack of community institutions. However, these peer groups could be quite negative to the individual. Like the theory states, those peers that involve themselves in criminal behavior will most likely cause the individual to follow in their footsteps. These types of peer groups are said to be found in high risk neighborhoods because there is a lack of surveillance and discipline due to financial instability. And peer groups tend to pressure other to join in on their delinquent behavior. No one wants to be the person left behind or made fun of for not being “man” enough to join them. So, unfortunately, individuals are forced into the situation that their peers involve themselves in, whether that be gang banging, selling drugs, or robbing a
Fleras, Augie. “Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: Repairing the Relationship.” Chapter 7 of Unequal Relations: An Introduction to Race, Ethnic and Aboriginal Dynamics in Canada. 6th ed. Toronto: Pearson, 2010. 162-210. Print.
Both males and females amongst the aboriginals are overrepresented in the various levels of secured custody. However, based on the enormity of the native involvement in the Canadian Penal System, there have been a number of commissions meant to resolve the dilemma regarding the aboriginal people (Crnovich 2005 : 8). While both the premises of the aboriginal and also the contemporary models related to justice have been identified as being mu...
The gross over representation of indigenous people in the Australian criminal justice system (CJS) is so disturbingly evident that it is never the source of debate. Rather it is the starting point of discussions centring on the source and solutions to this prominent social, cultural and political issue. Discourse surrounds not only the economic and social disadvantage of indigenous communities, but also the systemic racism and continuing intergenerational trauma resulting for the unjust colonisation of a nation which has profited whites at the detriment to indigenous people throughout history. In respect to the currently CJS, trepidations are raised by indigenous communities around the lack of culturally diverse laws and punishments within the system. The overtly western system does not provide a viable space for indigenous
The education of Aboriginal people is a challenge that has been a concern for many years and is still an issue. However, it remains the best way young people can climb out of poverty. With the colonialization and the oppression of Aboriginals, there have been many lasting side effects that continue to be affecting the Aboriginal youth today. “While retention and graduation rates have improved among urban Aboriginal population, an educational gap still remains between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth in urban settings” (Donovan, 127). Many suffer from a diminished self-worth, as they do not feel valued and feel inferior to their classmates. In this essay I am going to outline the reasons Aboriginals are struggling, discuss what is being done
(2011), Hirschi’s theory of social control summarized people follow the law and obey regulations because of social bonds surrounding them. He broke the social bonds down into four separate categories: attachment, commitment, involvement, and beliefs. Thomas Robertson experienced very weak social bonds throughout his life. Attachment refers to the people around an individual which would defer said individual from committing crime in order to keep their ties with their peers. Unfortunately, we see Thomas had a weak social bond with proper influences in society; rather, he insisted on making friends with deviant people in order to create any sort of bond. Commitment refers to how much desire an individual has to be successful with conventional activities such as finishing education. Thomas, at one point was interested in school, however, ridicule and harsh treatment belittled his commitments, resulting in him giving up on school. Involvement addresses how much time an individual spends on conventional activities such as school and work. Thomas dropped out of school in grade 11 and never had a job to make money. In order to get what he wanted, he resorted to criminal activities. Finally, Thomas’s beliefs of what was right and wrong were skewed by his environment, and he found himself believing conventional law was wrong, and his gang lessons were
Indigenous Australian youth still face many challenges evolving into mature men and women in present contemporary Australian society despite the formal acknowledgment of equality. In this essay, it will be identified of how Indigenous Aboriginal youth continue to be affected by white dominant Australian culture including experienced marginalisation, oppression and stereotyping of their culture and beliefs, and the continued affect of connection and interdependence
Recent reports of nearly 1200 missing and murdered Native American women from over the past 30 years have garnered attention from the media, resulting in a national cry for justice by the Indigenous population, but none from the rest of the country. This is in part due to the lack of awareness from the Canadian public concerning Native American issues and from the considerable lack of general media attention they get compared to non-Indigenous people with missing and murder cases. The marginalization of Indigenous women and girls in Canadian society has pushed them into more and more situations of victimization. Neglecting to form a solution to the social and economic problems within the Aboriginal community, especially with disadvantaged Native women and girls, further encourages their negative living conditions as well as the crimes committed to them. This also concerns the systemic bias within the justice system and the police who deal with the cases yet have failed to prevent and protect Aboriginal women and girls, by having them “over-policed, but under-protected”. Furthermore, the government has yet to address and create substantial solutions concerning the issues of Aboriginal women and their communities in Canadian society in order to help improve their conditions.
Some conflicts we may come across would be having them participate in the program. To overcome this difficultly, our program offers, a system similar to that of Big Brothers/Big Sisters pairing an elder or an ex-gang member to act as an authoritative figure from the aboriginal community with a youth. These ex- gang members will easily relate and connect with youths, making them more comfortable with themselves, society, and with family and friends. Helping them to learn things about their culture, spirituality, language, rituals, and relationship with Mother Earth, along with the importance of education and clean living. All aboriginal youths will meet with their mentors who have become positive and influential in leading these troubled youths to success. This program will provide youth with different activities to enjoy. This includes sports, cooking, art and many other activities. If youths are interested in other activities, the program will supply what they need. In addition, youths will be taught basic skills such as communication, problem solving, and life skills aimed towards correcting behavioural problems; encouraging schooling, post-secondary and employment. This program will be offered after school as well as on all reserves. The program will be accessible for all Aboriginal youth gang members. This after school program will provide snacks and drinks to all who
Theory In 1990, Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi presented a theory that claimed to explain all types of crime and delinquency. The main concept in the theory is low self-control. The self-control theory not only attempts to explain why individuals engage in criminal acts, but rather why individuals choose to conform to conventional norms. It is not a theory of crime causation, but rather a theory of pro-social behavior used so often by sociologists and criminologists to better explain deviance and criminality (Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, 2010). Before delving deeper into the self-control theory’s origins, Hirschi had already made great strides when studying delinquent behavior long before partnering with Gottfredson.
Social control theory has become one of the more widely accepted explanations in the field of criminology in its attempt to account for rates of crime and deviant behavior. Unlike theories that seek to explain why people engage in deviant behavior, social control theories approach deviancy from a different direction, questioning why people refrain from violating established norms, rules, and moralities. The theory seeks to explain how the normative systems of rules and obligations in a given society serve to maintain a strong sense of social cohesion, order and conformity to widely accepted and established norms. Central to this theory is a perspective which predicts that deviant behavior is much more likely to emerge when social constraints and bonds between the individual and rest of society are either weak or simply not present. The bonds that discourage crime are strengthened through relationships between the individual and social institutions such as the family, schools, judicial/policing systems, etc.
Aboriginal crime rate is known to be a lot higher than non-aboriginal crime rate. “The provincial crime rate (excluding reserves) at 1003 offences per 10 000 people, whereas the estimated crime rate on reserves was 1505 offences per 10 000 people”. (Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. 1999. Psychology of Criminal Behavior). By having these crime rate numbers being said, then I think this is one of the major reasons why Aboriginal people are being overrepresented. Crime defiantly has a grip on many of the aboriginal people. “Violent crime committed on reserves were eight times higher for assaults, seven times higher for sexual assault, and six times higher for homicides than rates in the rest of Canada. (Statistics Canada. 2006. Psychology of Criminal Behavior). These numbers could just be as high as they are due to discrimination of aboriginal people. There are many cases where aboriginals face discrimination because of their racial appearance. For example, I am a aboriginal person, and every time I walk into a store to shop for clothing, I ALWAYS get followed by white sales people. You can get the vibes off them, thinking you are intended to steal things. Although, not all aboriginal people steal, nor are they a bad person. Also, another example is when police officers see aboriginal people in a group in public,
THE POLICE criticism toward residents of a small inner-city Sydney suburb of Waterloo must signal the end of society and media depictions that has created an inability to deem the residents’ constant claim of police harassment and violence. It is time we should accept the grim fact that many existing attitudes towards the most disadvantaged people, Indigenous Australians, are part of this mayhem-like problem.