Where Learning Happens: Conversations with Queer, Métis Youth Who Engage in Hip-Hop Cultures
Date
2022-04-14
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Despite the vast academic and community scholarship on hip-hop cultures, there has been little research into the experiences of Métis youth in hip-hop, and what previous research exists has centered on the experiences of cisgender, heterosexual Métis men. This dissertation asks about the experiences of queer Métis youth participation in hip-hop cultures, and what would a pedagogy shaped by these experiences look like. The dissertation was written manuscript style, with three stand-alone articles brought together with an introduction and conclusion chapter. This research was centered within several academic landscapes in Chapter 1, including Métis identity, queer theory, and hip-hop cultures and pedagogies. I interviewed eight Métis participants, most of whom were queer, using an open-ended, conversational approach. Using Indigenous research methodologies and the voice-centered relational approach to data analysis, I entered into relationship with the stories shared by participants through a series of readings or “listenings,” discussed in depth in Chapter 2. Through these listenings, I was able to begin to hear not only the stories told both consciously and subconsciously, but also my own internal dialogue as a researcher engaging with their words. The analysis revealed two key categories of findings: the way that these Métis youth saw themselves both individually and in relation to community which I discussed in Chapter 3, and the way that these youth conceptualized learning spaces which I discussed in Chapter 4, including what facilitated or disrupted learning and how hip-hop overlapped with learning spaces. With these understandings in mind, I created guideposts I will use in developing a future Métis-focused hip-hop pedagogy. Chapter 5 offers a synopsis of this research, as well as a discussion of the contributions of this work, research challenges, and recommendations for future research. This research offers insights into the ways that queer Métis youth conceptualize their identities, how hip-hop cultures can impact educational spaces, and how the voice-centered relational method can be used in Métis research.
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Keywords
Métis youth, hip-hop pedagogies, queer pedagogies, Listening Guide
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Educational Foundations
Program
Educational Foundations