She needed the money so she let the gang members in her home.
Then things went crazy.
They tried to take over and use her home as a trap house, a place where street gangs run drugs and women.
“They gave me dope that caused a seizure and I almost died,” says the First Nations woman who APTN News has agreed not to name for her safety.
When the ambulance came so did the police and they kicked the thugs out.
Considering everything, she was lucky.
Most aren’t able to get gang members out of their lives.
After the police kicked them out, she wouldn’t let them back in.
Now she walks around with a target on her head.
“They paid people to harass and beat me up (after),” she says. “They are still coming after me.”
She’s hardened by the chase of her next fix and whether one day, the gang will return, kick down her door and kill her.
This is a familiar theme nowadays in Thunder Bay as outside gang members from Toronto and Ottawa are trying to take over the city.
They’re violent, ruthless, dangling money and drugs on streets desperate for anything fast and free.
But nothing is free and “life is cheap” as people told APTN reporters who last week spent several days digging into gangs and what’s known as the Fort William trap.
The big city thugs are targeting the most marginalized people and, in Thunder Bay, that tends to be First Nations people, particularly women.
That includes single mothers, according to Staff Sgt. Ryan Gibson who heads up the Intelligence unit for Thunder Bay police.
“We had a couple kicks on doors last year (where) they had taken over their homes,” says Gibson. “They were basically single Indigenous women with kids.”
Gibson says it was a “nightmare situation” for the women and has only gotten worse in the last year.
The Toronto and Ottawa gangs are fighting for turf while Indigenous gangs, the most prominent being the Native Syndicate, also fight for space they long held.
The outside gangs will offer free drugs to suffering addicts and then make them do their dirty work to get more.
That includes trashing apartments of people who resist the gangs, prostituting women on the street or out of the trap houses.
Gangs have “rats” or “lookouts” all over which made it difficult for APTN to talk to some people.
Most couldn’t be named in this story for a fear of their safety.
When not taking over homes of single Indigenous mothers or preying on the dope sick APTN was told of a new approach by gangs.
There is word on the street of thugs shaving the hair off the heads of Indigenous women.
“They’ll make them work the doors (of trap houses),” says one person. “They’ll send her to go do whatever until she can go back out there to work (the streets in forced prostitution).”
It’s a form of control the person says.
The outside gangs are known as “the blacks” – for their skin colour. People also had other, more racist terms for them.
But as they gain a foothold in the city, many say trouble is brewing as they collide with established Indigenous gangs and drug dealers.
In fact, all that separates them in the Fort William trap is the yellow line on George Street.
Recently, the outside gangs have taken over floors in a building known as the Royal Edward Arms, a former hotel that once hosted Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s, while the old Odd Fellows Hall building right across George street is “Native territory.”
Both buildings are overrun with drugs and discarded needles can be found throughout. People told APTN they are cash “havens” for the gangs.
People also told APTN it’s just matter of time before something happens.
“It’s a war,” says one person. “Every day I wake up: Am I going to get shot leaving the building today?
“Odd Fellows people and Royal Eddy people are different. They don’t click.”
APTN explained to Gibson what it was hearing happening in the buildings, including the turf war.
“For you to tell me the Royal Eddy and Odd Fellows have issues, 100 per cent,” he says. “You’re not too far off.”
The two buildings fall within the Fort William trap – an area of the south end that has the main homeless shelter.
The hub of the trap is the Victoriaville Mall and Newfie’s Pub, that are kitty corner to each on Victoria
street.
People hustle on the sidewalks outside.
It’s given the bar an unfair reputation to many who go there. It just happens to be the only bar there, they say.
Marginalized people hang around outside and “runners” from the Royal Eddy and Odd Fellows are there, too.
People who come down from the suburbs are known to pop in and get a runner to go get their fix.
“You have people who come to the bar, who don’t drink at the bar, looking for people to run to the buildings to get their stuff and leave,” says one person.
Several people told APTN the same thing.
But the Fort William trap isn’t confined to this part of Thunder Bay.
“They’re not just there. They are all over the city,” says Gibson.
He says police have kicked down doors all across the city to keep up with the gangs, and Thunder Bay police press releases back this up.
They’re littered with drug busts and violence related to gangs, like kidnappings.
“They’ll go into an area, they’ll do their thing and we’ll go in and clean them out, arrest them but more will come,” says Gibson.
He says the allure of Thunder Bay to outside gangs is they know they can make more money in the northern Ontario city and it also gives them connections to northern reserves where the price jumps even more.
“We are going after them as much as we can but it’s like plugging the dike with your finger sometimes,” Gibson says, adding at one point the local jail had a wing and a half filled with outside gang members.
People told APTN the outside gangs run drugs and women like a business. They have shifts and cycle members through to avoid police.
“There’s a day shift and there’s a night shift,” says one person. “So you don’t know how many there are, right?
“Usually they use the cleanest ones and they are the ones who got all the dope and money. The ones who don’t have a record.”
Even with all the arrests, Gibson says he’s not surprised to hear this.
“They are going to adapt to try and counter us and account for our techniques,” he says.
Thunder Bay has always had social issues with addictions and crime but several people told APTN they are seeing dirty drugs hit the street and people are overdosing on heroin, similar to other cities across Canada with
the fentanyl epidemic.
But the cocaine can also be laced with the garbage they say. Two people told APTN three people died of overdoses the week before reporters arrived.
Barb Campbell, 43, says her brother got sick from dirty drugs last week.
“I noticed ever since that (dope) came into town people are just bones. People are getting poisoned,” says Campbell.
It was just the latest thing she has had to deal with in recent months.
Her daughter, Kory-Lee Campbell, 22, was killed in a double homicide in July allegedly by Campbell’s ex-partner, Garnet Loon.
Loon and Campbell’s daughter, Kailee Loon, 19, was allegedly there, too. Police charged Garnet Loon, 41, with first-degree murder in Kory’s death.
The other person killed was Robbie Gray, 50. Both Garnet and Kailee are charged with second-degree murder in Gray’s death.
Gray’s name is known to those on the street.
He was “the boss” of the Native Syndicate street gang several people say.
Police will only say Gray was affiliated with the Native Syndicate.
“This guy has been responsible for many deaths in this city,” says one person. “They’d charge him and people would disappear or people get beaten up (and) they’d recant their statements or move away.
“He may not have directly killed a lot of people but his people underneath him did.”
Gray’s Facebook page remains up and he had posted several photos of young First Nations men and women flashing a gang hand symbol.
But there’s also many who posted on various posts saying they were going to miss him and it is sad he is gone.
Tragedy struck Campbell again in September when her younger brother was killed in a suspected home invasion, while two others were badly hurt with a baseball bat.
Police have charged Nazareth Nelson with second-degree murder of Bert Wood, 23, attempted murder on another and aggravated assault on a young First Nations woman.
Campbell spoke of her brother sitting on a blue bench across from the courthouse where he was known to be. She and others wrote memorial messages on the bench.
“I don’t want him to be forgotten. He was a good kid. He didn’t deserve that. No one deserves that kind of treatment. He was sleeping,” says Campbell.
As she leaves the bench Campbell says, “I love you, Bert.”
Recently, the Hells Angels put their death head sign back on their clubhouse on Simpson Street.
It’s created quite the stir in the city.
For some, it means maybe things will change.
“I’m not a supporter of organized crime but when the H.A. had a heavy presence here there was order. We need them back. We didn’t have people dropping like flies and (overdosing) and shit like that,” says one person.
Police busted the Thunder Bay chapter back in 2006 with multiple arrests and have done raids on the clubhouse since basically freezing them out for several years.
For the death head to go back up it means they have enough members to run a chapter again.
As for the First Nations woman at the beginning of the story, she is living one day at a time looking over her shoulder. While driving with APTN she spots a tanker ship out in Port Arthur in the north end of Thunder Bay.
It’s a sunny day and it’s quite a pretty picture.
“Oh God, look at that,” she says. “So much better than looking at a needle and a condom.”
She’s quiet for a few seconds and then says it’s the most beautiful part of Thunder Bay, far enough away from the Fort William trap.
“I’d just like to jump on that boat. It’d be my only escape out of here,” she says.
What is so wrong with our world when it comes down to killing each other over drugs.
How many men & women sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom….
and yet we`ve have become are own prisoners
if only there was a way for ALL of us to come together….in Friendship not War…
we could make our city and Canada strong again…
we are ALL HUMAN…we are ALL HURTING and we need each other…
WHY ARE WE DESTROYING OURSELVES ???? FOR WHAT ???
What is so wrong with our world when it comes down to killing each other over drugs.
How many men & women sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom….
and yet we`ve have become are own prisoners
if only there was a way for ALL of us to come together….in Friendship not War…
we could make our city and Canada strong again…
we are ALL HUMAN…we are ALL HURTING and we need each other…
WHY ARE WE DESTROYING OURSELVES ???? FOR WHAT ???
I am not surprised. Dealing with financial corruption in bands and reserves…sure.
We forget that people seek services in the city not available at home. MEDICAL, EDUCATION. And sometimes people come to buy goods and services in the city, improving the legitimate economy. So….first people need to see that First Nations people already are contributing members of the community.
The royal Edward was at one time a low income housing. Did that change?
And….this gang war issue is really about drugs, and users. And exploitaton. Targeting women is awful. And that is a problem.
None of this is shocking or surprising. …and dealing with it is not going to be easy. I think the warning to women is important to share….as she could be targeted for colour of her skin.
But I think the solution lies not in money. It lies in changes in attitude, and for some, acknowledging deeply held racist views that have no merit or truth to them. As much as reconciliation will hurt some and benefit others….it’s high time it’s done.
Then this story would be about poor single women who are targeted and single women parents ….which should be troubling because there are children around.
I am not surprised. Dealing with financial corruption in bands and reserves…sure.
We forget that people seek services in the city not available at home. MEDICAL, EDUCATION. And sometimes people come to buy goods and services in the city, improving the legitimate economy. So….first people need to see that First Nations people already are contributing members of the community.
The royal Edward was at one time a low income housing. Did that change?
And….this gang war issue is really about drugs, and users. And exploitaton. Targeting women is awful. And that is a problem.
None of this is shocking or surprising. …and dealing with it is not going to be easy. I think the warning to women is important to share….as she could be targeted for colour of her skin.
But I think the solution lies not in money. It lies in changes in attitude, and for some, acknowledging deeply held racist views that have no merit or truth to them. As much as reconciliation will hurt some and benefit others….it’s high time it’s done.
Then this story would be about poor single women who are targeted and single women parents ….which should be troubling because there are children around.
Can’t believe the racist comments left in reply to this article. It’s embarrassing to have to share a country with bigots who have so little understanding.
Can’t believe the racist comments left in reply to this article. It’s embarrassing to have to share a country with bigots who have so little understanding.
this city is saturated with crack and the real war s who has the best product! the addicts follow the best product not fn gangs ffs!whoever follows these people are wannabe’s and in the end it all means nothing!!lol!
I’m not a detective in any way but it’s not hard to put 2 & 2 together when bodies are floating in the rivers around thunder bay, the connection to gang violence cannot be dismissed. Grand Chief Fiddler was on the news the other day asking the question of why this is happening and seems to be blaming the Police Services not doing enough and basically being Racially motivated not to investigate. I for one, am so sick of hearing this statement from first nations leaders and alike.Take a step back from blaming the police for once and look at your own first nation communities. Start by auditing the funding paid to those communities to have a better life, that band members that STEAL the monies that are to help the youth of those communities to succeed instead of joining gangs to survive. That’s where the truth starts and so many first nation leaders are to quick to blame the Police or the White Man for all Their problems. Time to take back your communities and start helping YOUR YOUTH before they join the street gangs.
Am under the assumption that these First nations people are under Federal jurisdiction ,therefore, if the Fed Govt encourages
their relocation off the reserves to Thunder Bay, shouldn’t the city of Thunder Bay receive additional funding from them to offset
some of the law enforcement and investigation costs? Wouldn’t the city also be entitled to Federal funding to help in the costs
related to the Social aspects that go hand to hand with bringing these people to the city? Seems to many of us that our Police
and Fire Dept’s spend the majority of their resources dealing with the First nations people with the cost burden falling onto
the property tax payers in our city..
Or maybe you can tell white people to stop being violent and tell your gov to quit deliberately underfunding/discriminating against Indigenous peoples? (We’ll deal with our own)…
Or maybe you can look beyond what you’ve been superficially and willingly conditioned to see as the “problem”?
Or maybe you can lay off the “poor-me taxpayer” bit and acknowledge that Indigenous ppls, especially women, face far more harm from the system than the average “taxpayer” does.
Or maybe we can read the story properly and see that the problem is with black gangs and native gangs NOT white people. You’ll deal with your own? When? Perhaps you should tell you band chiefs to stop stealing from money that our gov sent to help your indigenous peoples.
We see some of the problem behaviour with our own eyes. There is nothing superficial or willingly conditioned about it.
And while you are at it, maybe you can lay off the “poor-me Indigenous person” and acknowledge that anyone who deliberately puts themselves in risky dangerous situations just might face harm.
Who is buying all these drugs?? I’m sure you don’t think it’s white ppl.
Are you really complaining about the cost to taxpayers when families are being broken when lives are lost? Seems insensitive to the violence don’t you think?
Even this story is trying to glorify white organized crime. I guess it’s okay if white boys break the law and profit off of crime, so long as no one else does. F bikers and all the crack addicted meth heads who support them.
this city is saturated with crack and the real war s who has the best product! the addicts follow the best product not fn gangs ffs!whoever follows these people are wannabe’s and in the end it all means nothing!!lol!
I’m not a detective in any way but it’s not hard to put 2 & 2 together when bodies are floating in the rivers around thunder bay, the connection to gang violence cannot be dismissed. Grand Chief Fiddler was on the news the other day asking the question of why this is happening and seems to be blaming the Police Services not doing enough and basically being Racially motivated not to investigate. I for one, am so sick of hearing this statement from first nations leaders and alike.Take a step back from blaming the police for once and look at your own first nation communities. Start by auditing the funding paid to those communities to have a better life, that band members that STEAL the monies that are to help the youth of those communities to succeed instead of joining gangs to survive. That’s where the truth starts and so many first nation leaders are to quick to blame the Police or the White Man for all Their problems. Time to take back your communities and start helping YOUR YOUTH before they join the street gangs.
i think its time the people start to rise up and take back the streets if u see a gang member get your friends and get them when there alone its time to take back out citys from these wanna be thugs warning to all u pussy gang members in thunder bay who are targeting woman and taken advantage of innocence people your days are out numbered i am not afraid of u why don’t u come threaten me u bunch of pussy’s and see what happens people stop being stop being afraid of your local law enforcement instead rise up and join them in to taken back your streets this is not there turf nothing is there silly turf they think they own us and the streets there dead wrong makes me sick to see whats happen to my city its time to take a stand if the police wont go after them i will your days are numberd gang members i will strike when u least suspect it i will make u all pay for your sins by cutting the head off the snake
Am under the assumption that these First nations people are under Federal jurisdiction ,therefore, if the Fed Govt encourages
their relocation off the reserves to Thunder Bay, shouldn’t the city of Thunder Bay receive additional funding from them to offset
some of the law enforcement and investigation costs? Wouldn’t the city also be entitled to Federal funding to help in the costs
related to the Social aspects that go hand to hand with bringing these people to the city? Seems to many of us that our Police
and Fire Dept’s spend the majority of their resources dealing with the First nations people with the cost burden falling onto
the property tax payers in our city..
Or maybe you can tell white people to stop being violent and tell your gov to quit deliberately underfunding/discriminating against Indigenous peoples? (We’ll deal with our own)…
Or maybe you can look beyond what you’ve been superficially and willingly conditioned to see as the “problem”?
Or maybe you can lay off the “poor-me taxpayer” bit and acknowledge that Indigenous ppls, especially women, face far more harm from the system than the average “taxpayer” does.
Or maybe we can read the story properly and see that the problem is with black gangs and native gangs NOT white people. You’ll deal with your own? When? Perhaps you should tell you band chiefs to stop stealing from money that our gov sent to help your indigenous peoples.
We see some of the problem behaviour with our own eyes. There is nothing superficial or willingly conditioned about it.
And while you are at it, maybe you can lay off the “poor-me Indigenous person” and acknowledge that anyone who deliberately puts themselves in risky dangerous situations just might face harm.
Who is buying all these drugs?? I’m sure you don’t think it’s white ppl.
Are you really complaining about the cost to taxpayers when families are being broken when lives are lost? Seems insensitive to the violence don’t you think?
Even this story is trying to glorify white organized crime. I guess it’s okay if white boys break the law and profit off of crime, so long as no one else does. F bikers and all the crack addicted meth heads who support them.
i think its time the people start to rise up and take back the streets if u see a gang member get your friends and get them when there alone its time to take back out citys from these wanna be thugs warning to all u pussy gang members in thunder bay who are targeting woman and taken advantage of innocence people your days are out numbered i am not afraid of u why don’t u come threaten me u bunch of pussy’s and see what happens people stop being stop being afraid of your local law enforcement instead rise up and join them in to taken back your streets this is not there turf nothing is there silly turf they think they own us and the streets there dead wrong makes me sick to see whats happen to my city its time to take a stand if the police wont go after them i will your days are numberd gang members i will strike when u least suspect it i will make u all pay for your sins by cutting the head off the snake
Thank you for bringing the issue here “mainstream.” Please continue to investigate, speak with our people on the streets. The gang contingencies from Toronto and Ottawa have targeted girls from my community. They intro’d themselves with drugs. Providing freebies, cultivating addiction, then began to collect… they shaved the heads of our girls and put them on the street. Addicted, in debt, they are exploited. Speak to these girls. Expose these gangs. Local police don’t seem aware or committed to arrests… our city is a sess pool. Q
It’s sad and terrible what’s happening here. I thought the double murder with Loon involved was this past winter and up in a “nice” area of town. Has there been another?
Thank you for bringing the issue here “mainstream.” Please continue to investigate, speak with our people on the streets. The gang contingencies from Toronto and Ottawa have targeted girls from my community. They intro’d themselves with drugs. Providing freebies, cultivating addiction, then began to collect… they shaved the heads of our girls and put them on the street. Addicted, in debt, they are exploited. Speak to these girls. Expose these gangs. Local police don’t seem aware or committed to arrests… our city is a sess pool. Q
Very good investigative journalism of a difficult situation..May this situation end soon,
It’s sad and terrible what’s happening here. I thought the double murder with Loon involved was this past winter and up in a “nice” area of town. Has there been another?
Very good investigative journalism of a difficult situation..May this situation end soon,