“Just Another Native?” Soundscapes, Chorasters, and Borderlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

This article discusses soundscapes created by young people participating in The Beat of Boyle Street, an in-school recreation-based project that teaches inner-city, at-risk youth to make music using computers and audio production software. Participants are predominantly Aboriginal youth, ages 14 to 20, living in poverty and confronting other challenges, including disabilities, addictions, parenting issues, racism, homelessness, and the vicissitudes of life “on the streets.” The soundscape compositions young people create tell stories that speak to the importance of what young people actually do with popular culture in their everyday lives, particularly with hip-hop music and style. Three soundscape examples provided indicate how young people (a) use and negotiate popular culture, (b) politically use and contest city spaces, and (c) act as “border crossers.” These points call attention to the power of popular cultural practices as leisure and provide insights for working with young people in recreational contexts.