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Young History in the making Cape Dorset youth uses writing music as an outlet for emotional energy
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 20, 2013
KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET
Being a teenager is hard and can be harder still in a small community. That's why one Cape Dorset youth started making music and has now started sharing that skill with other students.
Iain Connear Ross is a high school graduate currently releasing songs on SoundCLoud under the alias Young History, a name given to him by elders when he was much younger because of all the questions he asked. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo
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Iain Connear Ross knew he wanted to work with youth after he graduated from high school last year. He just wasn't sure in what capacity.
A music video released in May on YouTube shows Ross rapping at Peter Pitseolak High School, a school from which he graduated in 2012 and where he is now an occasional substitute teacher when there's a need.
He also helped out with a music course during the school's mini curriculum classes at the end of the school year, where students could enroll in short general interest classes to help gain a credit or two.
"It can be hard here," said Ross.
"There are a lot of issues, in the school and out, and music can give someone a different way to express themselves," he said.
The most recent video on YouTube, under his persona Young History, features lyrics like, "It doesn't matter where you're from but where you're going," and, "I write my rhymes, not to pass the time, but to clear my mind."
Writing lyrics is some of the advice he gives students that come to him.
"Some people are really shy. This is one of the ways they can get things out," said Ross.
Adding that even if they don't record anything or make any of their lyrics public, it's still a good way to work through some things.
Ross was given the name Young History when he was younger by elders in Cape Dorset.
"I love learning about Inuit history and I was always asking questions," said Ross.
Ross said he was bullied for at least six years and at times was suicidal. It's one of the many reasons he writes songs, again coming back to being a way to let things out.
Ross recently opened at a Beatrice Deer concert in Cape Dorset. Although not a stranger to performing and putting his words, lyrics and music out on the Internet for the whole world to see, Ross said he was initially kind of nervous.
"I have a lot of songs on SoundCloud, but this was different," said Ross.
"This is my way of letting things out, writing and singing. 'Cause living in the North you go through a lot in life."
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