The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A new report concludes that aboriginal youth gangs are a growing problem in Saskatchewan, with members showing up in small northern communities such as Pelican Narrows. Criminal Intelligence Service Saskatchewan this week released a report stating that gang members are living in places such as North Battleford, La Ronge and Pelican Narrows, a First Nation community 120 kilometres northwest of Creighton. Cpl. Dean Bridle of the Pelican Narrows RCMP said he wasn't surprised to see the community mentioned in the report. "I know there are known affiliated gang members that reside within Pelican Narrows," he said. "As far as any gang dealings, I don't think we really experience any of that at the forefront, but there are known gang members in town here." Cpl. Bridle said the members belong to the Indian Posse Ð a fast-growing gang branching across Western Canada Ð and the Tribal Brothers, which he believes is a relatively newer gang. The corporal couldn't provide any figures as to how many gang members live in the remote community of about 1,200 people. This week's intelligence report focused on aboriginal youth gangs, though there are also non-aboriginal gangs operating in Saskatchewan. The report estimated there are 1,315 members of youth gangs in the province. On a per capita basis, that's the highest rate in Canada. Criminal Intelligence Service Saskatchewan, which produced the report, is made up of 21 police organizations within the province.
