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Governments fund Nunavut’s youth hip-hop movement
By Carolyn Sloan Northern News Services Published Friday, December 19, 2008
“We were very excited and very pleased to hear the GN’s announcement that they’re putting so much money into supporting these programs because it had such a huge impact in Clyde River,” said Jakob Gearheard, co-ordinator for the Ilisaqsivik Society. “We’ve been doing hip hop over two years now and we’ve seen concrete positive results from it in youth making healthier choices, quitting smoking, quitting doing drugs. “That’s the whole focus of the program, to promote wellness.” With Ilisaqsivik’s support, Clyde River has been a frontrunner in the wellness-through-hip hop movement that is sweeping the territory. The community has hosted three of Blue Print for Life's programs, which teach life skills, self-esteem and values through the medium of hip hop. In addition to teaching dance, the hip hop instructors talk with the kids about issues such as drugs and alcohol, sexual abuse, bullying and suicide. “They all came in and the message was promoting wellness and healthy choices though hip hop,” said Gearheard. “Hip hop was the hook.” Similar programs have also taken place in at least six or seven other communities across the territory, including Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay, where hip-hop workshops have been supported by the RCMP, health centres and social workers. “The community response was overwhelming,” said Irene Swoboda, the registered psychiatric nurse for the high Arctic. “It provides hope and it gives youth another dimension to their life. “It gives the kids an identity and it gives the kids a role.” Government funding In making the funding announcement on Dec. 12, premier Eva Aariak touted the mental, emotional and physical benefits of hip hop that have been observed across the territory. “At first glance, it might seem odd for two governments to be supporting hip-hop workshops and culture,” she said. “But in Nunavut, thanks to the good work of Blue Print for Life and Clyde River’s Ilisaqsivik Society, hip hop reaches out to youth, including youth at risk, and teaches them to respect themselves, their peers and their community. “The leaders speak of reducing crime, suicide and drug and alcohol abuse. The participants leave with improved self-esteem and performance in school. They exercise daily, get their heart beating and use their muscles to defy gravity, and they continue practicing hip hop well after the workshop ends. They continue to challenge their bodies physically and develop mental toughness. That is worth investment and that is why we are here today.” Through the bilateral agreement, the federal government is contributing $189,000, while Nunavut’s Department of Health and Social Services and Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth will provide the remainder of the funding. In addition to hip-hop workshops, the funding is also being used to provide more than 40 schools across Nunavut with healthy living kits. “We know that the electronic age is having a big influence on our children today,” said Leona Aglukkaq, federal health minister and Nunavut MP, on her first official visit back home. “There are so many games and gadgets out there that are competing with our precious after-school time and all too often the gadgets are winning. “It is up to us to show them and to remind them just how much fun and satisfying it can be to exercise your whole body and not just sitting in front of a TV playing video games.”
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