Matthew Wood

Youth Culture and Empowerment - Canada (North America)

 

Case Study: Hip Hop for Respect

I Myself am the DJ of Red Power Squad (R.P.S) and also 1 of the bboys (breakdancers)….being a part of R.P.S has given me a chance to express myself for who I am and as well share with others how I use my Culture & Hip-Hop Culture to be myself and defeat my obstacles with elements such as Music, Art, Poetry & Dancing.

Red Power Squad started off as a local performing group in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in April 1998. Since them they have exploded into a worldwide success, performing countless shows on a global scale. R.P.S consist of sum of the top 10 Alberta bboys (breakdancers) and as well as top rated World Pow-wow dancers and independent CD rap artist. 

Not only does R.P.S perform but they also facilitate informative and interactive Youth Empowerment Workshops covering a variety of issues such as Destroying Stereotypes, Making Change in your community, The importance of Education, Life on the Reserve, Life on the Streets, Prevention & Awareness, Culture.

Since we started performing, many youth, parents & elders have been inspired and as well invited us to come perform and facilitate workshop in their communities to reach out to their youth and showcase how we use tools such as Music, Art, Poetry & Dance as a form of self-expression.

We try to have an impact by getting interactive and talk through about what has influenced the youth so much  such as Hip-Hop music videos exploiting and not only showing the negative side of the Culture such as Money, Gangs, Cars, Sex & Drugs   By breaking down these stereotypes we also showcase the positive side, which is being yourself, being a leader not a follower, expressing yourself through key elements such as Music, Art, Poetry, Dancing, Culture, Video.

Our main purpose is to Empower youth so that our next generation is not clouded by the misconceptions or the stereotypes that people give our Culture as well as Hip-Hop Culture. Hip-Hop Culture has become the language of the youth of today and we use these tools to share our obstacles and how other can use them to express themselves freely. If the youth are not shown these artistic Elements through other like themselves, they will only be influenced by what the media feeds them through television.  To me, the reclamation of culture means giving a new voice or meaning to a Culture or life, by giving back to your community and making sure that there are resources for your community to build and become a strong community.

In the Red Power Squad, we have worked with many of elders by showcasing our talents and utilizing our Culture so that our language and ceremonies are not lost, by not only working with youth but also the elders by showing how Music, Art, Poetry & Dance can be taught to youth and influence them to follow their cultural ways, and to respect themselves as well as people around them.

There are many obstacles in this work, and that is why we are not only a crew but a family that works together to cause Social Change in aboriginal communities. Our Group likes to touch upon subjects where it may seem difficult but in the end its well worth working towards to help others.

From all of my work with the RPS, I’ve learnt that I’m a forever student, and from what I know there is always room to learn new things from other youth, I’ve learned more about my Aboriginal roots and history.