Big Crowd Hears Story Of Ex-Gang Members

Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 14:42

 

 

Although there are many community organizations geared towards helping people get out of gangs . . . . that wasn’t what helped two young men in Saskatoon get out of them.

 

Today, they told their story to a crowd of 300 people who work for such organizations at a gang strategy forum in the city.

 

Rodney Nataucappo began getting into trouble with the law at a young age, and spent his 12th birthday in jail.

 

His life of crime eventually led to him joining a gang.

 

When it was time for him to get out, Nataucappo says he didn’t turn to any organization.

 

He says the only support he had came from Father Andre Poilieure, a Catholic priest who helps young men and women get out of gangs.

 

He is not paid to do.

 

Father Andre says organizations have a place, but it’s relationships that begin the healing process — and organizations can help once that process has begun.

 

Communities for Children spokesperson Sue Delanoy helped plan the forum.

 

Delanoy says the gang problem in Saskatoon is real.

 

She says gangs provide youth with a sense of purpose, and organizations need to figure out another way to provide that purpose to youth.