The emergence of tribal groups forming around motorcycles in Alberta represents a unique convergence of Indigenous cultural identity, traditional values, and modern motorcycle culture. This phenomenon is primarily exemplified by the REDRUM Motorcycle Club and its affiliated organizations, which have established themselves as the world's largest Indigenous-based motorcycle club since 20061. These groups operate throughout Alberta, particularly in Treaty 8 territory, combining traditional First Nations principles with contemporary motorcycle brotherhood to address community needs, preserve cultural practices, and advocate for Indigenous rights. The movement extends beyond simple recreation, encompassing fundraising efforts, cultural education, missing and murdered Indigenous persons awareness campaigns, and community healing initiatives that serve both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations across the province.
Origins and Foundation of Indigenous Motorcycle Culture in Alberta
The formation of Indigenous motorcycle organizations in Alberta emerged from a desire to create culturally grounded communities that could address the unique challenges facing First Nations peoples while celebrating their heritage through motorcycle culture. The REDRUM Motorcycle Club, founded in 2006 by Cliff Matias, established the foundational model for this movement116. The organization was built "on the foundation of the Red Road with a focus on brotherhood, motorcycling, community, respect, responsibility, fundraising and supporting family"1. This approach represented a deliberate effort to integrate traditional Indigenous values with the camaraderie and freedom associated with motorcycle culture.
The name "REDRUM" itself reflects this cultural integration, originally conceived as "Red-Drum" before evolving into its current form1. Importantly, the organization explicitly states that the name is not a reference to the movie "The Shining" and is not intended to read "Murder" backwards, emphasizing that "no word in the English language is purposely read backwards"1. This clarification underscores the group's commitment to authentic Indigenous identity rather than popular culture references. The organization functions as a "Warrior Society based on peace, righteousness and strength," drawing inspiration from traditional Indigenous governance structures, particularly "the original five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, who once fought each other then came together to promote peace and unity"1.
The geographical scope of these organizations is particularly significant in Alberta, where Treaty 8 territory encompasses vast areas of northern Alberta9. Treaty 8, signed in 1899, covers territory "commencing at the source of the main branch of the Red Deer River in Alberta, thence due west to the central range of the Rocky Mountains"9. This historical context provides the foundation for contemporary Indigenous motorcycle organizations operating within these traditional territories, as they work to address ongoing challenges facing Indigenous communities in these regions.
REDRUM Motorcycle Club: Structure and Mission
REDRUM Motorcycle Club has evolved into a sophisticated organization with a clear mission and structured approach to community service. The club operates under democratic principles modeled after traditional Indigenous governance, with chapters spread across multiple regions including Western Canada3. John Giroux, who serves as the regional representative for Western Canada, emphasizes the educational component of the organization's mission, particularly regarding reconciliation efforts and Indigenous history3. The club's approach to membership reflects both inclusivity and cultural respect, as "one does not have to prove Native American heritage or be Native American to believe in traditional ways of living and sharing community and family to be a member of REDRUM"1.
The organization's patch design incorporates significant cultural symbolism, featuring colors of maroon, silver, and black1. These visual elements serve as more than mere identification; they represent the club's commitment to Indigenous cultural values and serve as conversation starters that allow members to educate others about Indigenous issues and perspectives. The club explicitly states that it "does not claim any territory as we wear a First Nations Rocker which means we represent the Indigenous peoples known as First Nations"1, distinguishing itself from traditional outlaw motorcycle clubs that typically maintain territorial claims.
REDRUM MC's operational philosophy centers on community service and cultural preservation. The organization's activities include organizing rides for various causes, supporting homeless populations, and creating educational opportunities about Indigenous history and contemporary issues. For example, the club has provided assistance to homeless populations in Grand Prairie and Edmonton, distributing blankets, toiletries, and other essential items to those in need1. These activities demonstrate how the organization uses its collective motorcycle culture to address practical community needs while maintaining its cultural foundation.
Sister Organizations and Allied Groups
The Indigenous motorcycle movement in Alberta has expanded beyond REDRUM MC to include several allied organizations that serve specific demographics and purposes. RedSpirit Women's Motorcycle Riding Club represents a significant sister organization that focuses specifically on empowering Indigenous women through motorcycle culture412. Established as a sister club to REDRUM MC, RedSpirit "stands on the foundation of community, motorcycling, positivity, responsibility, fundraising, mutual support, and sisterhood"4. The organization's founding principles are "based on Indigenous principles, but we favor no single race or ethnic group and membership is open to every ethnicity"4.
The RedSpirit patch design incorporates complex symbolism that reflects both the organization's connection to REDRUM MC and its distinct identity as a women's organization. The patch features "the profile view of a woman wearing a red and black 7 Star bandana" and incorporates multiple cultural elements including "the 4 colors of the medicine wheel, honoring the four stages of life and the four colors of mankind"4. Additional symbols include seven stars representing seven generations, a butterfly symbolizing "freedom, growth, transformation and ancestors," and an eagle feather representing "connection and communication to the Great Spirit"4. These design elements demonstrate the sophisticated integration of traditional Indigenous symbolism with contemporary motorcycle culture.
The relationship between REDRUM MC and RedSpirit extends beyond simple affiliation to represent a comprehensive approach to Indigenous community building through motorcycle culture. Both organizations participate in joint events and share common missions while maintaining their distinct identities and operational focuses. This structure allows for gender-specific programming while maintaining overall organizational coherence and cultural consistency.
Community Activities and Social Impact
Indigenous motorcycle organizations in Alberta have developed extensive programming that addresses multiple community needs while preserving and promoting Indigenous culture. The Ride to Reconciliation represents one of the most significant annual events, described as "one of the biggest Indigenous-based rides in Canada"3. This family-friendly event combines motorcycle activities with educational programming, featuring "live music, entertainment, vendors, poker run and much more"13. The 2024 event raised funds for the Creating Hope Society, a non-profit organization that "acknowledges that the child welfare scoop of Aboriginal children in the sixties and seventies is a continuation of the Residential Schools era"3.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Spirit Ride represents another crucial initiative that demonstrates the serious social advocacy work undertaken by these organizations. The inaugural Canadian MMIP Spirit Ride took place in Central Alberta, bringing "150 or so participants on a 148-kilometre path through O'Chiese First Nation and Sunchild First Nation, before wrapping up with a closing ceremony in Maskwacis"5. Cheryl Wood, committee chair of the MMIP Spirit Ride, emphasized that "our sole mission is to raise awareness" about the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous people5. This initiative connects Alberta's Indigenous motorcycle community with broader North American advocacy efforts, as participants from the United States joined the Canadian ride to demonstrate cross-border solidarity5.
The Medicine Wheel Ride represents another significant initiative that connects motorcycle culture with traditional Indigenous spirituality and advocacy. This "intertribal and female-led 503(c)(3) nonprofit charity organization" focuses on raising awareness for "Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children (MMIWC) on and off Native American reservations"14. The organization notes that "on some reservations, women between the ages of 17-37 are murdered or disappear at a rate 10 times the national average"14, highlighting the urgent nature of the issues these motorcycle organizations address.
Cultural education represents a fundamental component of these organizations' community impact. REDRUM MC has developed programs that bring "elders and children together" through "culture camps" that teach traditional skills such as "medicine picking hunting teaching the kids how to hunt teaching kids how to net fish and fish tan hides"1. These programs demonstrate how motorcycle organizations serve as vehicles for intergenerational knowledge transfer and cultural preservation, using their collective resources and organizational structure to support traditional Indigenous practices.
Challenges and Recent Tragic Events
Despite their positive community impact, Indigenous motorcycle organizations in Alberta have faced significant challenges, including tragic incidents that have highlighted both the risks associated with motorcycle culture and the resilience of these communities. In August 2024, a devastating accident occurred when two REDRUM Motorcycle Club members were killed in a collision with a semi-truck near Sucker Creek6. Laurent Isadore, 38, from Driftpile Cree Nation, and Tyler Duboski, 33, from Edmonton, died when their group "were struck by a 'semi-truck'" while traveling to a fundraising ride for homelessness in the Treaty 8 region6. The RCMP investigation indicated that "the truck crossed the centre line and struck them," and alcohol was not believed to be a factor6.
This tragedy occurred during what was intended to be a community service event, as the group "had a ride scheduled to leave High Prairie and travel more than 80 kilometres before stopping at Driftpile, bringing attention to and raising funds for homelessness in the Treaty 8 region"6. The incident demonstrates both the risks inherent in motorcycle activities and the commitment of these organizations to community service despite potential dangers. The response from the community and organization reflected the deep bonds that characterize these groups, with members requesting that people "keep Laurent and Tyler's family, the Treaty 8 chapter, and REDRUM MC in your thoughts and prayers as we grieve these losses"6.
The accident also highlighted the extensive geographical scope of these organizations' activities throughout Alberta's vast landscape. The incident occurred while members were traveling between communities in Treaty 8 territory, illustrating how these groups use their mobility to connect dispersed Indigenous communities across large distances. This mobility serves both practical and symbolic purposes, as it allows organizations to provide direct support to multiple communities while demonstrating the ongoing connections between Indigenous peoples across traditional territories.
Cultural Significance and Broader Context
The formation of Indigenous motorcycle organizations in Alberta represents a contemporary expression of traditional Indigenous values adapted to modern circumstances. These groups operate within the broader context of Alberta's Indigenous history, including the historical significance of medicine wheels and traditional governance structures that inform their organizational principles. The Blackfoot Medicine Wheel Project has documented 46 known medicine wheels on provincial and federal lands in Alberta18, providing historical context for the spiritual and cultural foundations that inform contemporary Indigenous motorcycle organizations.
The integration of traditional Indigenous governance models with motorcycle club structure demonstrates innovative approaches to community organization that honor ancestral practices while addressing contemporary needs. REDRUM MC's adoption of democratic principles "modeled after the original five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy"1 illustrates how traditional Indigenous political structures can inform modern organizational development. This approach contrasts sharply with traditional outlaw motorcycle club hierarchies, creating space for Indigenous values such as consensus-building and collective decision-making.
The international scope of these organizations further emphasizes their significance within global Indigenous movements. REDRUM MC operates across eight countries and achieved recognition when it became "the first motorcycle club to be invited to the United Nations in New York" in 2019, where members "addressed countless issues impacting the indigenous communities"16. This international recognition demonstrates how Alberta-based Indigenous motorcycle organizations have become influential voices in global Indigenous advocacy efforts.
The relationship between these organizations and land acknowledgment practices reflects deeper connections to place and territory that distinguish them from non-Indigenous motorcycle organizations. The use of "First Nations Rockers" rather than territorial claims represents a respectful approach to Indigenous sovereignty that acknowledges the ongoing connections between Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories1. This practice demonstrates how contemporary Indigenous organizations navigate complex relationships between modern mobility and traditional land-based identities.
Conclusion
The emergence of tribal groups forming around motorcycles in Alberta represents a significant development in contemporary Indigenous community organization, cultural preservation, and social advocacy. Through organizations like REDRUM Motorcycle Club and RedSpirit Women's Motorcycle Riding Club, Indigenous peoples have created innovative structures that combine traditional values with modern mobility to address pressing community needs. These organizations have successfully developed programming that spans multiple areas including cultural education, social service delivery, advocacy for missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and support for reconciliation efforts.
The success of these organizations in building both local and international networks demonstrates the potential for Indigenous-led initiatives to create meaningful change while preserving cultural identity. Their emphasis on inclusivity, democratic governance, and community service provides models for other Indigenous communities seeking to develop contemporary organizations that honor traditional values. The tragic events that have affected these communities also highlight their resilience and commitment to continuing their work despite significant challenges.
Looking forward, these Indigenous motorcycle organizations in Alberta are positioned to continue expanding their impact through ongoing advocacy efforts, cultural programming, and community service initiatives. Their integration of traditional Indigenous governance principles with contemporary organizational structures offers valuable insights for Indigenous community development more broadly. As these organizations continue to grow and evolve, they represent important examples of how Indigenous peoples are creating new forms of community organization that address both historical injustices and contemporary challenges while maintaining strong connections to cultural identity and traditional territories.
Citations:
- https://redrummc.com/about-2/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_outlaw_motorcycle_clubs
- https://cfweradio.ca/2024/08/19/the-ride-to-reconciliation-returns-for-its-fourth-year/
- https://redspiritwmrc.com/about-redspirit-wmrc-2/
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/local-news/mmip-spirit-ride-raises-awareness-in-central-alberta-7390250
- https://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/top-stories/two-bikers-dead-near-sucker-when-struck-by-truck
- https://www.westrivereagle.com/articles/fifth-annual-medicine-wheel-ride-for-mmiwr-riding-for-resilience/
- https://imrgedmonton.com/events/mmip-ride/
- https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100028813/1581293624572
- https://cfjctoday.com/2021/06/27/first-nations-based-motorcycle-group-from-alberta-travels-to-pay-respects-in-kamloops/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN8ROkQ41rs
- https://redrummc.com/our-sister-club-redspirit-wmrc/
- https://canadianmotorcycleevents.com/alberta/eventdetail/572/-/ride-to-reconciliation
- https://womanrider.com/2022/01/medicine-wheel-ride-silent-no-more/
- https://allevents.in/calgary/2nd-annual-mmip-spirit-ride/200027793660316
- https://sierranevadaally.org/2022/10/20/redrum-motorcycle-club-warriors-of-the-road/
- https://redspiritwmrc.com
- https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/e327fb33-dee0-4c8d-918f-73f557b989ad/resource/14b69136-789c-4b8a-8b5f-bd60d42657af/download/blackfoot-medicine-wheel.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebels_Motorcycle_Club_(Canada)
- https://canadianmotorcycleevents.com/ca-riding-club-directory/on-riding-clubs
- https://www.instagram.com/redrummc/
- https://redrummc.com/chapters-2/
- https://www.instagram.com/redrummc/p/CXJ9zVJrIoD/
- https://www.instagram.com/red_spirit_wmrc/
- https://www.instagram.com/medicinewheelride/
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DHvuBdMPFZI/
- https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Eo_yaLFHV/
- https://www.instagram.com/redrummc/p/DDTabvDJc_b/?locale=es_us
- https://www.instagram.com/p/C_YZZ3iOYsL/
- https://rdnewsnow.com/2025/05/10/indigenous-sovereignty-in-alberta-protest-highlights-unity-across-province/
- https://globalnews.ca/news/10729849/northern-alberta-motorcycle-ride-fatal-collision/
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