Anti-gangs: Indigenous effort on Edmonton LRT aims to support youth through culture [Video]

A campaign spearheaded by a major Indigenous community south of Edmonton in conjunction with the city aims to persuade Indigenous youth to embrace their culture and steer away from gangs.

The Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council’s Young Warriors Program seeks to counter gang violence by connecting First Nations youth with their culture and giving them a sense of belonging and purpose.

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One way it’s looking to connect with them is through signage on Edmonton’s light-rail transit trains highlighting key messages in the Cree language. Representatives from the tribal council’s member reserves and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi were on hand to help formally introduce the signage on trains at Clareview LRT station on Monday.

The Maskwacis community is made up of five First Nations reserves 80 kilometres south of Edmonton near Wetaskiwin, including Samson Cree Nation 137 …