Indians Wear Red: Colonialism, Resistance, and Aboriginal Street Gangs

by Elizabeth Comack, Lawrence Deane, Larry Morrissette

With the advent of Aboriginal street gangs such as Indian Posse, Manitoba Warriors, and Native Syndicate, Winnipeg garnered a reputation as the gang capital of Canada. Yet beyond the stereotypes of outsiders, little is known about these street gangs and the factors and conditions that have produced them. Indians Wear Red locates Aboriginal street gangs in the context of the racialized poverty that has become entrenched in the colonized space of Winnipeg s North End. Drawing upon extensive interviews with Aboriginal street gang members as well as with Aboriginal women and elders, the authors develop an understanding from inside the inner city and through the voices of Aboriginal people especially street gang members themselves. While economic restructuring and neo-liberal state responses can account for the global proliferation of street gangs, the authors argue that colonialism is a crucial factor in the Canadian context, particularly in western Canadian urban centres. Young Aboriginal people have resisted their social and economic exclusion by acting collectively as Indians. But just as colonialism is destructive, so too are street gang activities, including the illegal trade in drugs. Solutions lie not in quick fixes or getting tough on crime but in decolonization: re-connecting Aboriginal people with their cultures and building communities in which they can safely live and work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Book Club, Indigenous, Politics, Canada

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2013

Reviews

[George Kettler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in Winnipeg, I often heard about how we continuously earned the nick-name of Murderpeg. The proliferation of violent crime was taken to come as part and parcel of Winnipeg's identity. Winnipeg is also marked by its large urban indigenous population. Comack looks at both of these facts and tries to tease out how indigenous gangs formed in Winnipeg, how they operate and what we can do to try and end them. This is not an easy task and Comack does a fantastic job of meeting this challenge. She combines research on the sociology of gangs and the history of Winnipeg with in depth interviews with current and former gang members. The result is a fascinating look into the world of Winnipeg's street gangs.

[Kieran West · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a great sort of 101 for those wishing to know more about critical understandings of winnipeg's history. for those wishing to dive a bit deeper i would highly recommend stolen city by owen toews.

[Ariela · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Indians Wear Red” traces back the root of Indigenous street gangs to colonialism. It’s a very interesting journey to see how these two things correlate. It explores how Indigenous simply cannot live on their own land anymore, or that they don’t feel the need to. This marks the start of Aboriginals moving to densely populated cities where they are more likely to join street gangs. This book sheds some light on the experience of Aboriginals in urban areas. How they were treated, how they lived, and mostly, what happened to them.

It dives into how street gangs, however bad they might be, can offer a sense of comfort or a “family” for young boys.
It’s interesting how these ex street gang members are interviewed to get their takes on different things. Their attitudes towards gangs, the things they did, and what they were subject to both at home and within the gang. It dives into their drug operations and the sheer scale of them. Lastly, the book goes into ways to prevent or help them. To decolonize and rehabilitate people that have been affected.

Reading this as a young person is powerful. I read testimonies of young men who chased something that seemed promising, only to find themselves in a worse place than before. It’s really heartbreaking because I can certainly empathize with them and understand their lines of thinking. The promise of status, a group, a purpose, a job, only for it to be futile in the end. Wasting away a lot of those childhood and teenage years for nothing. It’s a really impactful message. I would recommend this to other young people, though there is a fair bit of swearing. I think it’s important for other young people to understand the impact that starting something can be. It might not be joining a street gang, it might be a gateway drug or something similar. Youth need identity and belonging that is not found through a world of violence, and this book really points out the steps to help find that.

[kaitlyn dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

so educational. i think everyone canadian—and for sure every person in winnipeg—needs to read this. it does make me sad and frustrated about the state of our city, but also passionate and sympathetic to the things that indigenous people and communities face. i want to be careful not to pretend to know what their struggles are; in addition, i don’t want to come at their unique circumstances thinking i am the Great White Saviour that can fix everything. however i am greatly motivated to support all aboriginal people in (re)discovering their culture and claiming their traditions, beliefs, and spirit as their own again. colonization has done too much damage to first nations people and i will not stand for it in my life anymore. i stand against racism and i stand against discrimination and prejudice. this book has only reinforced that for me.

[Maureen Ulrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written and informative resources on Winnipeg street gangs. Those who support building bigger prisons should give this a look. The prisons will never be big enough.

[Devynn Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book on Winnipegs gangs. Can be repetative at times but overall very good.

[averrie v · Rating 5 out of 5]

well-written and educational while still accessible. offers a unique perspective and provides insight from the inside of winnipeg’s street gangs that isn’t often showcased elsewhere

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stark look at the realities of growing up First Nations in Manitoba. The authors draw on previously published material, as well as their own fresh interviews and case studies, to give a brutal view of gang life in Canada. It's not a stretch to see how colonialism has stretched across the years to affect current generations of youths, and put them in a position where their life choices are almost pre-decided. This is an excellent read for anyone who wants to get a broader view of why gangs exist, and why we need to change our ways of trying to eliminate them.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account tracking both structural forces and individual experiences in the rise of Aboriginal street gangs in Winnipeg. Both stark and hopeful.

[Linda Zhou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A significant contribution to recording and presenting passed history and current situation of aboriginal people in manitoba.