PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

Tribal youth such as Michael Landrie was able to express himself through hip-hop at the PTHA’s Hip Hop Youth Forum.

‘Hip’ role models encourage self-expression

By Clare Jensen

Tribal youth from around the region spent Aug. 27-28 scratching, spinning, rapping, tagging, popping and locking at the Puyallup Tribal Youth Center.

Sponsored by the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA), the Hip Hop Youth Forum brought youth together with positive role models for a couple of days immersed in positive hip-hop culture and artistic expression.

Whether they chose MC, DJ, dance or graffiti artistry as their forte, each youth got to delve into the often-overlooked positive side of hip hop culture.

PTHA youth coordinator Janel Tobar said that in creating this event the intention was to cast a positive light on hip hop, something that has received some negative stigma over the years.

“We wanted to show how it can be positive…show the roots of hip-hop,” she said.

Quese Imc is a Pawnee and Seminole rap artist who travels around the country doing youth workshops along his sister Happy Frejo, and fellow hip-hop artists.

Quese Imc said he participates in youth hip-hop workshops because it is a healthy activity that encourages expressing their individual thoughts and feelings in a positive way.

“In some way, it allows them to find what their gift is,” he said. “I transfer this gift I give to them… they take it, use it and give it to someone else.”

Happy Frejo worked with a group of young women during the forum teaching them how to dance in a hip-hop style.

She sees involvement in hobbies, such as dancing, writing and other forms of artistic expression as a way to keep youth on a healthy track in life.

“They don’t have anything to do, that’s why they turn to drugs and alcohol,” she said.

She noted that in addition to the physical component of dancing, she also incorporates lessons on eating healthy and being active into her workshops.

“I try to promote health, hope and encouragement in them,” she said. “We try to get them to tap into their talents.”

At the forum, the more than 30 youth were broken into groups and exposed to each of the four elements of hip-hop: DJ, MC, dance and graffiti.

On the second day, youth were able to choose which form of expression they liked most, and concentrate on that element, which they would perform that evening for family and friends.

“It was really just an avenue to get kids together – this (hip-hop) excites kids…they can come and learn about something fun, express their feelings and emotions…and get those tidbits of being drug and alcohol free,” Janel Tobar said.

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