Gangs? Eden Maracle, The Urbanization of Warrior Symbolism: Traditional Indigenous Representation in Canada’s Indigenous Gang Culture’, Graduate dissertation, Mount Royal University, 2025 | settler colonial studies blog

Gangs? Eden Maracle, The Urbanization of Warrior Symbolism: Traditional Indigenous Representation in Canada’s Indigenous Gang Culture’, Graduate dissertation, Mount Royal University, 2025

22Jun25

Abstract: Indigenous peoples are overrepresented in the Canadian criminal justice system and are disproportionately involved in gang-related activities. This issue is particularly prevalent in communities such as Winnipeg’s North End, where gang culture has become normalized. The persistence of gang affiliation among Indigenous peoples is rooted in the legacy of colonialism, contributing to systemic marginalization and social dislocation. Through a semi-systematic literature review and visual ethnography, this paper explored the integration of traditional Indigenous symbols within Indigenous gang culture to understand how aspects of Indigenous identity were incorporated into gangs. The research paper revealed that Indigenous gangs incorporated these symbols not only to assert resistance against colonial narratives but also to reclaim historically marginalized aspects of Indigenous identity. The paper concluded that the use of traditional Indigenous symbols in gang culture was a form of cultural reclamation, offering a sense of empowerment through the contemporary use of the warrior. These findings can provide valuable insights for policymakers and community leaders, suggesting that programs focused on positive cultural revitalization could help address gang involvement by providing a sense of cultural identity that no longer needs to be found through gang involvement.

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