Fort William First Nation turns to Guardian Angels for help

Superior Morning6:41Vampiro, Ian Hodgkinson, wants to set up Guardian Angels in Thunder Bay

Ian Hodgkinson says he wants to make his home community a safer place. The former professional wrestler, known as Vampiro, recently moved back to Thunder Bay. Since he returned, he's been working to set up a local chapter of the Guardian Angels. The inteThe chief of the Fort William First Nation says the timing could not be better to welcome the Guardian Angels to her community.

Georjann Morriseau said she was receptive when local chapter head Ian Hodgkinson reached out to her a few months back.

The volunteer foot soldiers made their name in New York City close to 30 years ago but haven't been received warmly everywhere they go, with critics questioning their effectiveness in reducing crime and accusing them of vigilantism.

According to information on the group’s website, there are now more than 130 Guardian Angels safety patrol chapters throughout the world, with constant additions being made. They say they promote public safety through a variety of violence prevention programs.

Morriseau said she and Hodgkinson met this week and agreed to work on setting up a Guardian Angels chapter on the First Nation.

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“Ian and I shared a lot of the same values and the same concerns,” she said.

“At the end of it, it was 'we want to come to the community and make it a safer environment for everybody.' And we will make sure we do whatever we can to make sure that happens.”

Looking for more support

Hodgkinson met with Thunder Bay Police Chief JP Levesque last month, when he outlined his role representing the Guardian Angels. Police issued a press release afterwards, saying “before a chapter is set up in Thunder Bay, local police want to ensure the organization has high ethical and legal standards. It is important that any volunteer organization ensure that members are screened regarding their background.”

Morriseau said her community needs additional support to battle threats to children posed by drugs, alcohol abuse, gangs and the sex industry. 

She said Hodgkinson has been invited to present his plans for a Guardian Angels chapter to the Fort William First Nation band council.  

“The Guardian Angels and Ian came in at such perfect timing because we are now at that point where we want to see action,” she said.

“We, as a leadership of Fort William First Nation and the community, want to start protecting our community and protecting our children and our families.”

First Nation wants 'to take action'

Hodgkinson said Chief Morriseau identified several concerns on the First Nation he feels the Guardians can help address.   

“There is a drug problem that exists — alcohol use and abuse. [There is a feeling of] not being accepted [and] not having the opportunity to study,” he said.

“Those are the kinds of things that are on the table. That's where I think we are going to go right now, at least with the youth.”

Morriseau said bringing the Guardians on board will go a long way in helping the First Nations’ youth.

“The youth want to take action,” she said.

“We are behind them 100 per cent, and I've said it before, and I'll say it again: drug-dealing, gangs, violence, and sex offenders have no room in our community and no room in our lives."

Hodgkinson said the Guardian Angels also continue to work on establishing a chapter in the city of Thunder Bay.       

He said Mayor Keith Hobbs is the first Canadian politician in the Guardian Angels’ 35-year history to support their activities.

"One of our goals was to get over the problem of segregation that has existed here in Thunder Bay since I was born,” he said.

“I have the idea to have as many aboriginal youth involved in the guardian Angels program. I think exclusion is one of the big problems here."

Hodgkinson, who hails from Thunder Bay, is also known as the professional wrestler Vampiro.