“That's the Life of a Gangster”: Analyzing The
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“THAT’S THE LIFE OF A GANGSTER”: ANALYZING THE MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS OF DANIEL WOLFE A thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts In Interdisciplinary Studies University of Regina By Leisha Ann Grebinski Regina, Saskatchewan August 2012 ©Copyright 2012-LA Grebinski UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SUPERVISORY AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE Leisha Ann Grebinski, candidate for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, has presented a thesis titled, "That's the Life of a Gangster": Deconstructing the Media Representations of Daniel Wolfe, in an oral examination held on April 25, 2012. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material. External Examiner: Dr. James McNinch, Faculty of Education Co-Supervisor: Dr. Charity Marsh, Media Production and Studies Co-Supervisor: Dr. Carmen Robertson, Visual Arts Committee Member: Dr. Randal Rogers, Visual Arts Committee Member: *Dr. Jo-Ann Episkenew, First Nations University College Chair of Defense: Dr. Yvonne Petry, Luther College *Not present at defense ABSTRACT “That’s the Life of a Gangster”: Analyzing the Media Representations of Daniel Wolfe Daniel Wolfe has been represented by the news media as one of Saskatchewan and Manitoba’s most “notorious gang members.”1 Wolfe first made headlines at the age of 31 after he instigated a fatal home invasion in the rural community of Fort Qu’Appelle, northeast of Regina.2 Later that year, while on remand at the Regina jail, Wolfe and five other Aboriginal inmates staged an elaborate break-out which received extensive national media coverage.3 Two years later Wolfe was killed in prison. His death, although tragic, was regarded by media and experts as an “obvious conclusion” to a gangster’s story.4 Through an interdisciplinary approach consisting of interviews with key participants and a discourse analysis of print, radio, TV, and online new sources, I examine the media spectacle of Daniel Wolfe as a case study concerning the implications his story had on media representations of the Aboriginal gangster on the prairies. “That’s the Life of a Gangster”: Analyzing the Media Representation of Daniel Wolfe interrogates how Daniel Wolfe’s story is used by media, police, and politicians to perpetuate fear of Aboriginal men. I examine: 1) The role the media plays in the 1 Daniel Wolfe is labelled as notorious in the following articles: Murray Wood, “Gang Leader Killed in P.A. Pen Brawl.” NewsTalk 980. January 5, 2010; “Gang leader killed in Sask prison fight: sources.” CBC News. January 5, 2010. 2 “Qu’Appelle shooting shocks community.” The Leader Post. September 22, 2007. <http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=94a6d303-791e-4166-bdd1- c592ffffdfb5> Accessed March 29, 2011. 3 “Regina jail escapee says he never planned to break free.” CBC News. September 18, 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/09/18/wolfe-interview.html. Accessed March 29, 2011. 4 Barb Pacholik, “Gang Leaders Death a Sad Fate, Prosecutor Laments.” The Winnipeg Free Press. January 7, 2010 <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/gang-leaders-death-a-sad-fate-prosecutor-laments- 80885207.html>. Accessed March 29 2011. I Aboriginal gangster is a current monolithic mis-representation of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. For this thesis I take a three pronged approach: Firstly, I conduct an analysis into the media representations of Wolfe to examine the racialization of gang crime and the production of a moral panic. Secondly, I investigate how stereotypes of Aboriginal gang members such as Wolfe are reproduced and embodied by Aboriginal youth through an analysis of media represented links between Aboriginal bodies, hip-hop, and crime. Thirdly, I examine how agency and healing are being practiced through processes of storytelling by members of Wolfe’s family. The intent of this thesis is to contribute to and challenge the current conversation regarding the growing Aboriginal population and its perceived link with a so-called ‘growing Aboriginal gang problem’ on the prairies. II AcknowledgmentsAcknolwedgements This thesis would not have been possible without generous funding from the Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre. I would also like to acknowledge the gracious support of my co-supervisors Dr. Carmen Robertson and Dr. Charity Marsh. Both encouraged and challenged me to produce a body of work I am extremely proud of. I would also like to thank the University of Regina Faculty of Graduate Studies for providing me with funding to present elements of my work at a national conference. III Dedication To my parents Ben and Starla Grebinski for their love and encouragement. Thank you for sharing your passion for education with me. IV Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgment iii Dedication iv Table of Contents vi 1. Introduction 7 2. 1.1. Theoretical Framework 10 1.2 Noble Savage/Violent Warrior 13 1.3 Counter Narratives 18 1.4 Methodologies 19 1.5 Decolonizing and Indigenous Methodologies 24 1.6 Storytelling, Dialogue, and Healing 25 2. Chapter Two: The Shooting 30 3. 2.1 Community in Shock 31 2.2 Breaking News 36 2.3 Growing Aboriginal Gang Problem 40 2.4 Gang Shooting? 42 2.5 Suspect at Large 45 3. Chapter Three: The Escape 47 4. 3.1 Break Out 49 3.2 Constructing Fear 50 3.3 The Mythology of a Gangster 57 V 3.4 Speaking up 62 3.5 The Capture 67 4. Chapter Four: The Trial 72 5. 4.1 Court Reporting 73 4.2 Primary Definers 78 4.3 Taking the Blame 80 5. Chapter Five: The Death 83 6. 5.1 That’s the Life of a Gangster 85 5.2 Producing the Gangster 92 5.3 Laying Blame 97 5.4 Posthumous Constructions 100 5.5 Stereotypes and Sweetgrass 101 6. Conclusion 108 7. 6.1 Last Word 108 8. Bibliography 114 9. 8. Appendices 128 9. 8.1 Appendix One: Timeline 128 8.2 Appendix Two: Research Ethics Board Consent 130 VI IntroductionIntroduction Media reports often highlight a "growing Aboriginal gang problem"5 on the Canadian prairies even though the media has reported crime statistics are on a steady decline.6 Headlines such as “Native gangs spreading across Canada”7 or "Battle over war on gangs"8 are not uncommon, yet little evidence is given to substantiate such claims. The prevalence of sensational media coverage of a perceived racialized gang problem produces what Stuart Hall refers to as a “moral panic.”9 To critically examine how the production of a “moral panic” perpetuates fear of Aboriginal bodies on the prairies, I turn to the media coverage of Daniel Wolfe as a case study. Wolfe first made headlines at the age of 31 after he participated in a fatal home invasion in the rural community of Fort Qu’Appelle located 75 kilometers northeast of Regina.10 Later that year, while on remand at the Regina jail, Wolfe and five other Aboriginal inmates staged an elaborate break-out which received extensive national media coverage.11 Wolfe was killed in prison two years 5 See: Ryan Ellis, “Gang problem may grow,” The Leader Post, March 17, 2005; Janet French, “Gang members lose heritage,” The Leader Post, May 31, 2007; Tim Switzer, “Police fear more gang violence,” The Leader Post, December 15, 2004; James Wood, “Staffers say gangs at war inside,” The Leader Post, August 30, 2005. 6 Gloria Galloway, “Crime falls to 1973 levels as Tories push for sentencing reform,” the Globe and Mail, July 21, 2011. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/crime-falls-to-1973-levels-as-tories-push- for-sentencing-reform/article2104745/>. Retrieved November 3, 2011. 7 “Native gangs spreading across Canada,” CBC News. March 16, 2010. <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/03/16/mb-native-gangs-manitoba.html. Retrieved November 12, 2011. 8 Bartley Kives, “Mayoral Candidates drop gloves over crime: Katz, Wasylycia-Leis battle over war on gangs,” the Winnipeg Free Press, September 14, 2010. <http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/mayoral- candidates-drop-gloves-over-crime-102841344.html> Retrieved November 5, 2011. 9 Stuart Hall et al, Policing the Crisis (London: MacMillan Press, 1976); Stuart Hall, Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, (London: Sage, 1997.) 10 “Qu’Appelle shooting shocks community.” The Leader Post. September 22, 2007. <http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=94a6d303-791e-4166-bdd1- c592ffffdfb5> Accessed March 29, 2011. 11 “Regina jail escapee says he never planned to break free.” CBC News. September 18, 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/09/18/wolfe-interview.html. Accessed March 29, 2011. 7 later. Media and “experts” such as police, lawyers, and judges regarded his tragic death as an ‘obvious conclusion’ to a gangster’s story.12 Officials and journalists produced a media spectacle of Wolfe’s life and death which unconsciously linked his story to an entire race of people and legitimated the argument that Aboriginal gangs remain a serious problem and pose a significant threat to society. As such, this case study is informed by the following questions: How do the radio, television, print and online news media use Daniel Wolfe’s story to perpetuate fear of Aboriginal bodies?13 In what way do mediations of Daniel Wolfe draw on historic constructions that perpetuate the myth that Aboriginal people are inferior? How are representations of Daniel Wolfe in the media play a role in producing and romanticizing the mythology of a gangster?14 Why are representations of Daniel Wolfe as an Aboriginal gangster contribute to a current monolithic mis-representation of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples?15 12 Pacholik, Barb.