Former members of Crazy Indians Brotherhood to form own group
Brotherhood is a group of men in Saskatoon devoted to helping vulnerable people
Five former members of Crazy Indians Brotherhood are leaving the group to form their own.
This week, Saskatoon Morning profiled several members of the group devoted to helping vulnerable people on the streets. Some members left behind gangs, addiction or homelessness, and turned their energy to helping others.
The Brotherhood uses some of the symbols of gang, such as black leather jackets and vests. That is where the similarity ends.
Even so, some of the members still felt uncomfortable with image of a gang.
"None of us were in a gang or associated with any gang. We have family and kids and jobs and stuff and it's just a thing that has to do with our life," former Brotherhood member Chris Martell said. "We support them and we love what they do. But we feel that we have our own calling."
Martell said he and the other four members are working with elders to come up with a new name and approach. They will continue the work they started with the Brotherhood, something he said is like a "modern day warrior society."
"When other people think about warriors, they think about conflict," Martell said. "Our perception of warrior is how it used to be in the old ways: being protectors and being there for the sick and the people who can't take care of themselves, the elderly and the poor."
Martell said three members of the Brotherhood remain in the group and at least two others will soon join. He added that the former members of the group will support the Brotherhood with their goals and activities.
In fact, since CBC Saskatoon's series on the Brotherhood, Martell said he is helping to connect people who are interested in the Brotherhood.
"A lot of young people are messaging me and then asking me, 'How do I join?', so I'm helping them try to get out of a gang."
Elders are hosting a pipe ceremony on Oct. 23 that will include a blessing for the new group. Martell said that night they will start some of their work as a new group — handing out free Halloween costumes for children at the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre.