Poverty and substance abuse are fuelling the rise of aboriginal gang activity in Western Canada and the problem is only going to get worse over the next 10 years, an expert on youth gangs says.

Mark Totten of the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa told a police symposium in Surrey, B.C., Thursday that an increase in gang activity will be driven in the next few years by racism and the absence of social programs.

"The depth of poverty is just so deep for many of these kids,'' said Totten, who has been hired by the British Columbia government to guide the province in dealing with youth gangs….

Totten said racism and poverty equal more aboriginal youth in gangs……

Totten said cash needs to be channelled into child care, young mothers living in poverty and antiracism programs to root out problems where they begin.