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Hip Hop as Native Culture
Young aboriginal artists fuse traditional art with the urban street.
"Thunderbeans" and "Rebirthing the heyoka" by Andrew Dexel.
Hip hop, including dance, clothing, music and graffiti, has long been an influence on First Nations youth, starting with the breakdancing Tania Willard used to see at powwows 17 years ago.
But some First Nations people see street culture as a threat to the traditional art and rituals they are striving to preserve.
Willard has tried to bridge the divide by co-curating an art show in Vancouver titled "Beat Nation: Hip Hop as Indigenous Culture."
At Friday night's opening at Grunt Gallery, Willard explained the purpose of the show for young aboriginals: "One, it's about getting in touch with their culture and two, it's about making hip hop their own."
'Most of us are in the city'
Leena Minifie, whose dance film "Geeka" is part of the exhibit, says that hip hop is only a part of the phenomenon.
"It's really about urbanization," said Minifie, adding that of the 196,075 aboriginal people in B.C., "70 to 80 per cent of us are in the city."
The artwork is up at the gallery and online. Willard and her co-curator Skeena Reece created the website so they could reach out to all native youth in B.C.
Some of the older generations criticize the fusing of cultures and see it as a break from tradition, writes Glenn Alteen, the show's producer.
They are not the only ones. Video of "pow wow hip hop" on You Tube has hundreds of comments that argue about dancing hip hop in regalia.
JezabellePMS wrote "I can't believe they would do this to our culture," while others like xkillJoex responded, "I disagree with Jez, our pow wow dances have evolved since the beginning of the century."
'New tools to rediscover'
Alteen sees hip hop as a way to explore traditions.
"These artists are not turning away from the traditions as much as searching for new ways into them," he wrote. "Hip hop is giving youth new tools to rediscover First Nations culture."
Alteen pointed out that celebrated Haida carver Bill Reid also fused traditional and contemporary methods in his sculptures.
Visual artist Andrew Dexel first connected with his traditions by making art -- starting with graffiti at the age of 13.
"Graffiti and Northwest Coast art are very similar, to me, because it's somewhat of a symbolism thing going on," said Dexel.
"[With] graffiti you take this identity, this name, this word -- mine was Fuse -- and I'd add my own characteristics to it," said Dexel. "In Northwest Coast artwork, there's the spirit of the bear, the eagle, then you add your own interpretation and what that means to you, just like that word," Dexel said.
Graffiti and ovoids
His paintings "Thunderbeans" and "Rebirthing the heyoka", on display at Grunt, are more contemporary canvas pieces, made with acrylic and spray paint. He uses the bright colours of graffiti under the circles and ovoids of the Northwest Coast style.
He signs his work with his spiritual name Enpaauk. On the website beatnation.org he writes:
"My work relates my spiritual path; my journey. I express the inspiration lovingly given to me through teachings and stories from my elders and mentors. My work embodies the powerful visions that I have been given through these teachings. I am grateful."
At Friday night's opening Dexel said, "By no means would I call my work traditional." Yet he relies on ceremonies like fasting and the sweat lodge -- which he does two to three times a week -- to inspire his art.
Willard explained that culture and tradition are in constant transformation.
"There's no such thing as static tradition. What we call tradition today was once innovation," she said.
The exhibit runs until August 1, 2009 and indefinitely online at beatnation.org.
Related Tyee stories:
- Aboriginal Art Turned Inside Out
Conceptual artist Brian Jungen on 'Indian crafts', Nike Town, glitz, pine beetles and more. A Tyee interview with image gallery. - Paths to Fame for Young Native Artists
Craft, culture and business skills all part of the picture. - Exhibiting Conflicts
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HawkEyes
2 years ago
Fusion of culture and traditions
Of course, change is the only constant.
That's why traditions are wonderful, they anchor and unite people through cultural change...
Bill Reid's book on traditional NW native art is a master's classic.
You need roots to fly?
With everything being an influence...hip hop is only one.
The culture of poverty is another.
With both Crips and Bloods on one (rural) BC reserve that I'm aware of,
I suggest this article barely scratches its own surface?
That said, I'm going to YouTube to enjoy...and share with the grandkids.
wayfarer
2 years ago
Enough with the hip-hop, please!
I agree that there's no such thing as "static tradition" and I'm a huge fan of cultural diversity and multiculturalism, but I'm getting really tired of seeing hip-hop infect every facet of pop cultural and non-black minority life, then be defended as an important part of the cultural fusion process.
The once rebellious, inner-city African American sounds of hip-hop has been co-opted by white, corporate America and sold back to blacks as "bling", and resold to the rest of us as 'cool' vibe. I don't buy it. I don't buy it because I'm old enough to know the difference between authentic cultural expression and pop culture commodity fetishism. I'm old enough to see the difference between Chuck D and Eminem, between the Sex Pistols and Green Day.
The problem of native gangs in cities like Regina - huge, and not coincidentally, a significant part of the symbolism in that epidemic is the gangsta rap bullshit - the sideways caps, the LA-style bandana look, the pants down to knees and, of course, the incredibly mundane hip-hop sounds, which since being co-opted from authentic sources like Grand Master Flash and Public Enenmy by Madison Avenue, has increasingly been stripped of anything rebellious as it becomes but a vacuous, misogynist genre about bling, bitches and "putting a cap in yer ass." Fuck that noise. I'd love to see Canadian Firt Nations youth being more creative in their deviations on culture and tradition.
Incidentally, If I see one more white punk from the burbs drivin' his daddy's SUV, blasting the latest thump-thump crap out his car window, I think I'm gonna put a cap in someone's ass.
I got no problem with commercial genres of music. I just have a real problem with the pretense involved with oppressed subcultures trying to incorporate said genres as something rebellious. These days, it's likely more rebellious to hang a disco ball at your pow-wow than it is to fuse in hip-hop beats.
morechatter
2 years ago
Its Transcends Light, Hope and Peace
I believe the piece comes more out of the culture of poverty and not separate from As its the lighting that forces the beans to transcend going within to seach for solutions. I love the artists use of colors in Thunderbeans as it spoke volumes to me on how a nation of people needing to heal spiritually in a fast paced world. Its moving forwoards so a people can move backwards to simplier times. Less is more.
Yammer
2 years ago
Hey wayfarer, hip hop is a genre
It has roots in 'poverty culture" (you don't need singing lessons or even instruments) but it's beyond simply being an authentic expression of anything, and is now a musical genre which can be enjoyed by anyone, even annoying white people in SUVs. So there's not much point in wondering why kids like it.
A more interesting, and funny, question for me is why hip-hop is the default genre/look for youth of all colours.
I think the simple answer is that black people generate American culture, full stop. (See Might Magazine's "Are Black People Cooler Than White People?" If you can't find it, the answer is: "Duh.")
ME2
2 years ago
Re blamees
I guess it's not "cultural genocide" if it's generated by US Blacks. :-)
Nor have I heard any condemnation of the residential school's marching bands, which promoted the later formation of so many dance bands on-reserve.
Advocacy BC
2 years ago
Blending of Culture & New Voices
It's been exciting to watch, listen and see young, strong Aboriginal musicians and artists blending culture and tradition with new media and music. If only the media were to do a better job of highlighting the positivity, talents and successful Aboriginal people and leaders who are flourishing and creating excellent role models for each new generation and how all are making a difference in the lives of their communities, urban, or rural.
I think it is a generational divide that is critical of how younger generations interpret, play with and change culture and meaning, that's been going on forever. Young Aboriginal people, like the rest of their peers are inspired by their own muses and cultures and are letting their voices be heard in unique and innovative ways. That's what young people do.
It's an exciting time for First Nations peoples of all ages, it's time for them to take front centre on the stage like they're meant to do. In my opinion, most Aboriginal peoples are too humble, understated and don't shine publically the way they should and they have much to teach us about their worldview and wisdom. I suspect that is changing though and I'm glad of it. Indigenous peoples are the true Rockstars of the global village and we need to learn from them, their strength and resilience and beautiful cultural expressions.