CREATING SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS PROJECT
Forums and Focus Groups on Youth Violence
On November 26, 2008, the Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) organized a forum on youth crime and violence in Thunder Bay. This was to review comments gathered by the RMYC project on crime and violence in the city, share observations on the nature of the crime and violence, the impact on the quality of life, what is being done to address the problems, and what more is needed to make the community safer.
The forum was hosted at the Multicultural Youth Centre and a cross-section of youths from various backgrounds and agencies working with at-risk youth were invited. Over twenty participants attended the focus group that provided information that was shared at special meetings held with community leaders, the police, and educators. Funding from from the Safer and Vital Community Grant enabled us to co-ordinate the gatherings. Highlights from the discussions were presented to a committee conducting a Review of the Roots of Youth Violence.
The following is a summary of what was covered during the discussions:
What is happening in the community?
Most of the crime and violence in the community is due to alcohol and drug use and linked to drug trade
Problems with criminal youth street gangs a growing problem
Violence is used as a tool of intimidation, to get attention, to settle scores, and to survive on the streets.
Social violence learned from family, neighbourhoods, the media, movies, sports, etc
Violence is a coping mechanism for poverty, racism, community/family breakdown. Many kids are angry at their situation and do not know other ways to deal with their problems.
Northern Ontario faces unique barriers and challenges – small isolated under-serviced communities separated by vast distances, sparse population including 90 First Nations, some only accessible by air in a vast area covering two thirds the size of the province. They are under-serviced and lack many amenities.
Racism is prevalent and breeds violence –– primarily between Natives vs. Non-natives
Zero-tolerance policy is schools often discriminatory against Natives (racial profiling)
Aboriginal youth lack a connection with the school curriculum. DFC, the First Nations school aspires to include Aboriginal content/history for relevance to native students.
Due to the legacy of residential schools, many adults are emotionally disconnected and not able to raise or discipline their children. Good and positive role models are few for Aboriginal people. Role models for Aboriginal youth come ""after the fact,"" when youth meet adults/role models in correctional facilities. This should happen before Aboriginal youth get into trouble
Current judicial system has not been very supportive of offenders. Incarceration often leads youths to become hardened and professional criminals
Bureaucracy often separates organizations that should be collaborating when they have to compete for funds and statistics.
Many organizations operate from 9 -5, when kids are in school. Youth-serving groups should run after-school programs and organize, affordable and accessible activities.
Schools are generally underused after classes, but supervision and transportation after hours can be a problem.
Gap in services particularly when youths turn 16. Those in-care often get no support.
Need for early intervention for kids in dysfunctional, impoverishes, and abusive homes
Society should focus on prevention and be more proactive to reduce risk
Need for specialized services/programs for troubles and at-risk children and youth at risk who are more prove to joining youth gangs, lashing out, or becoming violent.
What can be done to reduce youth violence?
Positive peer influence in the community will reduce the amount of youth violence. Developing positive peer leaders and positive role models to break the cycle.
Consult and engage youths as stakeholders to find solutions to violence
Support for Youth Centres that promote youth engagement and empowerment. Youths should be involved in planning and organizing their own activities, and determining the services and supports they need. They should also be trained in leadership and organizational skills to be active participants in developing and implementing programs that help to reduce violence.
There is a lack of activities or services for youths in some neighbourhoods. Recreational and social activities should be accessible and affordable for at-risk youth and those below the poverty line.
Addressing poverty and supporting interventions to help kids caught in negative family life and painful experiences heal.
Accessible community centres or schools in various neighbourhoods that organize and host after-school to keep kids busy.
Better programs and services that youth can access easily and are well- publicized.
Youth, especially Aboriginal youth, don’’t get respect or a sense of belonging in their community so they commit acts of violence is a way to gain respect from peers.
Time and effort should be put to help impoverished youth, listen to them and work with them to address their problems
Provide funding for organizations that already have programs and services to help youth. More support for youth-led groups that are well connected to kids, so that they can devote their energies to delivering programs and working with youth instead of fundraising just to exist.
Major themes from discussions:
First Nations youth particularly affected by the cycle of violence because many have trouble with identify, self esteem, and sometimes a lack of proper parenting stemming from Residential schools.
Too much emphasis on dealing with violence and crime after the fact . There is a lot of investment in incarceration and treatment, while little is being done to support community programs that prevent kids from getting into trouble in the first place.
Young people are caught up in alcohol, drugs, gangs, crime and violence because of limited well funded preventive programs and skilled people who connect well with kids stepping up and telling them healthy alternatives, and where to find help.
There are few healthy alternatives for disadvantaged and at-risk youth after school. Not much offered that is affordable to racialized and at risk youth not in the ‘system’ For example youth-led groups such as the Regional Multicultural Youth Council, and youth centres such as the Multicultural Youth Centre, and the Underground Gym which offer various affordable activities for kids of all backgrounds after hours have been forced to suspend programs or spend most of their time and effort fundraising instead of helping kids. Funding is a challenge, and the lack of stability in securing operational grants has an impact on program delivery and youth involvement levels.
Youth drop-in centres offer a safe haven for kids to hang-out and are convenient places to engage youth in open dialogue on what is going on in the neighbourhood, community, at school, etc. and what can de done to improve things or change social conditions and make a difference.
Kids who have been in youth custody often have more care and support while in the ‘system’ compared to when they are out. This should not be the case. For kids who leave the system, there should be something for them when they are released so that they do not slip back into old activities and be caught up in the same negative relationships or gangs
For some youths, violence starts early in their lives. Physical, mental, emotional, sexual abuse is common, and continues in their lives. Family, the media, sports often display violence that some become conditioned to accept it as normal.
Again, early intervention with peer support, alternative programs such as mediation to talk things out rather than fight, get counselling to deal with anger and other stressful situations. Meaningful involvement, engagement and empowerment to deal with problems as part of the solution to problems can help to break the cycle of violence.
Young people need opportunities to belong, to have friends, and to be appreciated. If they are constantly being put down, ignored, not listened to, or mistreated, they are at risk of looking to belong in the wrong places, and are susceptible to being recruited to gangs.
A great deal of violence involves the use of alcohol or drugs where people lose control and lash out. And some violence stems from people who are addicted turning to crime under any circumstances to get the cash to support their habit.
Cognitive skills such as the tool lit used by the Creighton Centre are important to help kids develop new coping skills, a different attitude and an appreciation of themselves and those around them.
The development of youth councils to involve and empower youth to make a difference offers a new approach to engage them as stakeholders in rooting out violence. Youth-led activities and programs can connect better with their peers. Such a strategy has the potential to reach more youths.
Comments from Educators, City Council and Aboriginal Leaders:
Youth street gangs, assaults, bullying, alcohol and drug abuse and youth crime in general are a common problems across Thunder Bay and in all schools. Violence is a growing concern, and students are suspended for fighting in Public and Catholic schools. Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School has in-school detentions for boarding students.
Racism is a concern among all school boards. Racial incidents were more common between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. There were also reports on racial problems from racialized youths, i.e. Blacks, East Indian, Oriental, Hispanics, etc.
The Public and Catholic schools do not offer student supports outside school. Both boards of education do not have Aboriginal teachers, and said that it is hard to get and to keep Aboriginal teachers. They do not have special recruitment and retention strategies for Aboriginal teachers. The Public school has an Aboriginal Advisor at the Administrative level, and the Catholic Schools had an Aboriginal Student Counsellor working at St. Patrick and St. Ignatius High Schools.
There are an estimated 1,000** Aboriginal students in elementary and high schools of the two school boards. Both the Public and Catholic systems are working on a voluntary self-identification of students. Retention rates were improving compared to the 90% drop-out rate a decade ago.
DFC has 250 students, and has a better retention system attributed to the supports they were providing to their students. The school was open until 10 p.m. and on weekends to maintain access to students after hours. A lack of funding limits the schools ability to provide more support services to the students. DFC students face many academic challenges, and the school was reviewing various programs and supports to better help the students to stay in school and graduate.
The Public and Catholic boards had surplus schools which were lying dormant. There is potential and merit in discussing plans to use existing school facilities after hours for youth programming. Supervision, insurance, and safety and security issues are major concerns to be resolved. Funding is a problem to cover heating, cleaning and related costs associated with the janitors.
There is a need to separate teachers from regular after-school activities so that they concentrate on teaching. Parents, volunteers, peer leaders etc. have to step up to take full responsibility of the school after hours.
Funding for DFC is inadequate for the real expenses incurred. Aboriginal students at DFC get funding from INAC, while off-reserve Aboriginal students are funded by the province. Aboriginal high school students under INAC get approximately 50 percent of what an Aboriginal student off reserve is funded by the province. A Fort William First Nation student gets far less money residing on reserve. They get double the amount if they move to the City and are funded by the province.
First Nations are working on a curriculum that was more appropriate for their students to help reduce the high attrition rates that perpetuate poverty and a life of crime, violence and other negative liseftyles.
Thunder Bay Aboriginal Inter-Agency Council is a coalition of Aboriginal agencies and Aboriginal-serving agencies in Thunder Bay. The group meets monthly to share information on services and supports available to facilitate the adaption and integration of Aboriginal people in the city. The Aboriginal Urban Strategy is part of the coalition and provides cultural activities and food to Aboriginal students in schools the program has been established.
For the police, gangs are a growing problem in the community and across the region. Alcohol, drugs prostitution, and gambling, while lead to crime and violence.
Police enforcement is not practical or realistic to deal with youth violence. Police can only suppress crime and violence and not totally prevent the problems that cause or contribute to such behaviours and negative lifestyles.
Need for community programs in neighbourhoods to keep kids busy, educate citizens and raise awareness on current trends. There is a need for more organized recreational activities for kids after schools. Nothing to keep at-risk kids busy in some city neighbourhoods, and this contributes to youth crime and violence.
Times are different now, there is internet, cyber bullying, and so-forth, and the society and communities need new tools to fight violence and crime that is promoted through new technology..
City going through a financial crunch due to economic down-turn of traditional industries –pulp and paper and grain elevators. Down-loading also a major factor and funding formulas a problem. Unfortunately, many programs function as "silos" or separate entities. For example different agencies responsible for public housing, and set "quotas" or guidelines for units to be built, and criteria for occupancy.
City is aware of growing youth crime and violence, youth street gangs, and high levels of poverty. Many families are avoiding public housing units at Limbrick Place due to the high incidence of violence and crime. Academy Place is also becoming renowned for the same problems, and adults are scared of youths in the area..
Public housing projects lack funding for social programs for families and occupants. The City has no funding to support social programs. The City cannot use property rates to fund support programs. There is no capital plan for housing replacement, and many public housing units are run down. This makes them havens for violence, crime and other negative lifestyles.
Schools closing down, and using the facilities for after-school programs would provide activities for kids. The Mayor suggested having laundry facilities (laundromats) in schools to bring parents and have them feel comfortable with the setting and get them to visit with their kids.
The City has a Children’s Charter to give children and youth a sense of optimism and hope. But the Charter has no budget to engage children and youth due to a shortage of funds for social programs and adequate support services.
The City needs to create opportunities for families to support themselves, access services, help and supports they need ro raise healthy children. But with the current downloading of services from the province, there is no funding for programming.
There are growing numbers of dysfunctional families with complex problems. Addictions to alcohol, drugs, and gambling compound the problems of violence and interventions are needed to help the kids and break the cycle.
Pro-Kids is an award-winning program that sponsors kids to participate in sports. But, parents need to play a part to register the kids and cover transportation costs.
The Casino down town has had an adverse impact on local charities who can no longer fundraise through bingos and roving casinos to support their services, and now spend more time fundraising instead of working with clients or delivering programs. The City only gets 5% from slot machine revenue as the host community, and the money goes to general revenue.
Lack of community supports for increasing numbers of Aboriginal students coming to study in the city. NAN has lost students in the city each year to tragedies.
Racism a major contributor to violence among Aboriginal youth in the community. They are made to feel that they do not belong in the city. Racial profiling common - gave example of a DFC student on a class tour of the Thunder Bay Police Station who was detained by the Police and interrogated for wearing an Aboriginal designer shirt. The Police Chief acknowledged the incident which is under investigation.
The legacy of residential schools are a factor on youth violence among Aboriginal kids. A lack of positive role models, negative lifestyles, family and social breakdown, poverty and other negative lifestyles are part of the inter-generational impacts that impact Aboriginal children and contribute to their joining gangs to belong.
Aboriginal students face many barriers in education. Limited funding for on-reserve schools to offer a variety of career options, and a lack of recreational activities to avoid boredom and offer alternatives to negative lifestyles. Many youths have to leave home (family and friends) for higher education in urban centres. Curriculum is still not always inclusive of the First Nations experience. Therefore many drop-out and are caught in cycles of criminal activities, violence and other negative lifestyles to survive.
Poverty, housing, health, employment opportunities sffect the quality of life on reserves. Government always cites remoteness of communities for social programs and supports, yet money is always available the corporate sector when it comes to resource extraction.
Youth violence is increasing in the community, and United Way of Thunder Bay is Evergreen and YouthScape to involve the neighbourhood to make a difference.
The city needs Need to educate the general public about the causes of violence, and solicit feedback on the solutions.
** There are 90 First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario
49 NAN communities north of the Canadian Railway line;
28 Treaty #3 – west of Thunder Bay
13 Robinson-Superior (1850 Treaty) along Lake Superior shoreline
* Not all Aboriginal students in Thunder Bay attend DFC
* NNEC is comprised of 24 NAN communities.
MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
All levels of government (federal, provincial, municipal) and the business community should invest in children and youth by providing funding and support to engage youth as stakeholders in dealing with youth crime and violence. Youth-led groups should be created and supported as an ideal strategy to involve youths, reach out to their peers, and empower them to make a difference. Youth drop-in centres are an important component to creating safer communities because they provide a safe haven for kids to hang out with their peers after school, talk about their issues, plan their own activities, access information, services and supports, develop proactive programs, and be challenged to work together to enhance their status and improve things. Recreation and fun activities alone will not address the problem of crime and violence is the kids are hungry, angry, marginalized, oppressed or feel hopeless. Sustenance of successful youth-led programs is the key to engaging more youths in positive activities. One-time funding for successful youth initiatives undermines the best practices developed and learned, creates frustration among peer leaders and undermines motivation, enthusiasm and meaningful involvement the youth need to feel they belong to the community and are part of the solution to problems.
There is an urgent need to develop programs to address poverty and addictions in order to break the cycle of negative lifestyles among children and youth. Providing universal daycare and parenting programs, as well as youth centres with structured after-school programs will have a positive impact on the next generation.
Schools should develop peer mediation programs and be innovative to engage more students through other strategies beyond student councils in creating safer schools so that they are part of the solution to problems. Safe schools enhance learning by encouraging students to concentrate on their studies instead of worrying about safety. Developing and implementing special learning tools to encourage students to stay in school will enhance their success in careers and employment prospects thereby reducing risks of involvement in criminal activities and violence.
The City of Thunder Bay should set aside a public housing unit/project for families coming from alcohol, drug, or gambling addictions treatment, and provide after-care programs, services and supports to help them on the road to recovery. This would definitely benefit the children who are the innocent victims, and encourage them to break the cycles of addiction and other related negative lifestyles. The City should also set aside some money to enable youths to be engaged in activities that promote and enhance the Children’s Charter.
Police Services should continue to build bridges with the youth to gain their confidence and work together to prevent crime and violence.
January, 2008