Abstract
This essay provides an overview of research on Native people in the inner core of four cities. This research was funded by the Aboriginal Justice Directorate, Department of Justice as part of the Aboriginal Justice Initiative. The objective of the research was to elicit information along a number of dimensions including: background, coming to the city, life in the city, experiences with the criminal justice system, and aspirations for the future. The information was used to compare east/west differences in Aboriginal incarceration levels, to explore urban and rural/reserve offences, and social stratification within the inner-city population.
The findings revealed that social stratification exists in the inner-city Native population and that the more marginal the position, the greater the involvement with the criminal justice system. The findings also showed the relationship between childhood and adult experiences. East/west variation in Native incarceration levels can be explained by the findings that more people in the west belonged to the most marginal group in terms of education, employment, skills, and childhood disruption and violence. The findings argue for policy and program attention to be directed to those whose needs are greatest. When ‘broad brush’ solutions are applied, those with the most and least needs are treated equally.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blau, J., and P. Blau. 1982. ‘The Cost of Inequality: Metropolitan Structure and Violent Crime’.American Sociological Review, 47 (1): 114–29
Brody, Hugh. 1971.Indians on Skid Row. Northern Science Research Group, Ottawa: Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Bursik, Robert J. 1988. ‘Social Disorganization and Theories of Crime and Delinquency: Problems and Prospects’.Criminology, 26 (2): 519–552
Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. 1993.Police-Reported Aboriginal Crime In Calgary, Regina, and Saskatoon. Ottawa: Statistics Canada
Christie, Nils 1993.Crime Control as Industry. New York: Routledge
Clatworthy, Stewart. 1983.The Effects of Urban Residency on Native Labour Market Behaviour. Research and Working Papers No. 1, Winnipeg: Institute of Urban Studies
Collins, James J., and Robert L. Flewelling. 1991. ‘Interpersonal Violence and Normative Conduct’. Research Triangle Institute
Comack, Elizabeth. 1993.Women Offenders' Experiences with Physical and Sexual Abuse. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba
Condon, Richard G. 1992. ‘Changing Patterns of Conflict Management and Aggression among Inuit Youth in the Canadian Arctic: Longitudinal Ethnographic Observations’.Native Studies Review, 8 (2): 35–47
Depew, Robert C. 1993.Aboriginal Policing: A Research Perspective. Draft paper prepared for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Dosman, Edgar J. 1972.Indians: The Urban Dilemma. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart
Edmonton Inner City Violent Crime Task Force and the Edmonton Aboriginal Representative Committee. 1992.Inner City Service Improvement for the Aboriginal Community in Edmonton. Edmonton: CPM Planning Services and Edmonton Social Planning Council
Graves, Theodore D. 1973. ‘The Navajo Urban Migrant and His Psychological Situation’.Ethos, 1 (3):321–342
Greene, Michael B. 1993. ‘Chronic Exposure to Violence and Poverty: Interventions That Work for Youth’.Crime and Delinquency, 39 (1):106–124
Gurstein, Michael. 1977.Urbanization and Indian People: An Analytical Literature Review. Ottawa: Development Planning Associates
Hull, Jeremy. 1983.Natives in Class Society. Saskatoon: One Sky
Kerri, James N. 1976. ‘Indians in a Canadian City: Analysis of
Social Adaptive Strategies’.Urban Anthropology, 5 (2):143–56
LaPrairie, Carol. 1992.Dimensions of Aboriginal Over-Representation in Correctional Institutions and Implications for Crime Prevention. Aboriginal Peoples Collection, Ottawa: Ministry of the Solicitor General
LaPrairie, Carol, with Yves Lequerrier. 1991.Justice for the Cree: Communities, Crime, and Order. Nemaska, QUE: Cree Regional Authority
LeBlanc, Marc. 1991. ‘Family, School, Delinquency, and Criminality: The Predictive Power of an Elaborated Social Control Theory for Males’. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology meetings, San Francisco, November.
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. n.d.Intensive Supervision and Interim Release Supervision Program. Winnipeg
Mathiesen, Thomas. 1990.Prison on Trial. A Critical Assessment, London: Sage
McCaskell, D. 1985. “Patterns of Criminality and Corrections among Native Offenders in Manitoba: A Longitudinal Analysis’. Ottawa: Correctional Services of Canada
— 1981. ‘The Urbanization of Indians in Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver: A Comparative Analysis’.Culture, 1 (1): 82–89
— 1970. ‘A Study of Needs and Resources Related to Offenders of Native Origin in Manitoba’. Ottawa: Correctional Planning Branch, Ministry of the Solicitor General
McDonnell, Roger. 1993. ‘Prospects for Accountability among the Cree of James Bay’. Unpublished paper
Morinis, Alan E. 1982. ‘Skid Row Indians and the Politics of Self’.Culture, 11 (3): 93–105
Morse, Brad. 1989.Aboriginal People and the Law: Indian, Métis and Inuit Rights in Canada. Ottawa: Carleton University Press
Muirhead, G. 1983.An Analysis of Native Over-Representation in Correctional Institutions in B.C. Victoria: Corrections Branch, Ministry of the Attorney General. Unpublished paper
Peat, Marwick, Stevenson, and Kellogg. 1990.An Analysis of Costs of the Justice System Attributable to Aboriginal People. Prepared for the Public Inquiry into the Administration of Justice and Aboriginal People, Winnipeg
Peters, Evelyn. 1992. ‘Native Women's Adoptive Strategies in Urban Milieus’. Kingston: Queen's University. Unpublished paper
Pratt, John. 1993. ‘Aboriginal Justice and the Good Citizen: An Essay on Population Management’. Unpublished paper
Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba. 1991.The Justice System and Aboriginal People. Winnipeg: Public Inquiry into the Administration of Justice and Aboriginal People
Sacco, Vincent F., and Holly Johnson. 1990.Patterns of Criminal Victimization in Canada. Statistics Canada, Ottawa: Ministry of Supply and Services
Sampson, Robert J. 1993. ‘Toward a Theory of Race, Crime, and Urban Inequality, in John Hagan and Ruth Peterson, eds.,Crime and Inequality. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press
— 1987. ‘Urban Black Violence: The Effect of Male Joblessness and Family Disruption’.American Journal of Sociology, 93 (2): 348–382
Schwendinger, Herman, and Julie Schwendinger. 1993. ‘Giving Crime Prevention Top Priority’.Crime and Delinquency, 39 (4): 425–447
Stanbury, W.T. 1975.Success and Failure: Indians in Urban Society. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press
Wacquant L., and W. Wilson. 1989. The Cost of Racial and Class Exclusion in the Inner—City’.Annals of the American Academy of Political and Society Science, 501: 8–25
Wilson, W. 1991. ‘Studying Inner-City Social Dislocation: The Challenge of Public Agenda Research’.American Sociological Review, 56 (4): 1–14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This essay is an overview of research contained in a three part volume,Seen but not Heard: Native people in the Inner City. Ottawa: Justice Canada. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justice Canada or of the people involved in the project.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LaPrairie, C. Seen but not heard: Native people in four Canadian inner cities. The Journal of Human Justice 6, 30–45 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02585441
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02585441