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Things can change; we have to rise up. I have a revolutionary way of thinking. — Lindsay Knight
Rap, motherhood, academia and community collide By Angelina Irinici
You may know Eekwol as Canada’s first solo female aboriginal hip hop artist. What you may not know is that Lindsay Knight isn’t too fond of that title. For starters, Knight doesn’t like the term aboriginal because it’s been developed and defined by the government and not its own people. She prefers “indigenous” because it reflects the people on an international level as being different nations and tribes. And she doesn’t like to be pigeonholed — she questions why female rappers are put in a separate category from males. She’s heard people say, “You’re pretty good for a girl” far too often. Her response: “It’s words. It’s using your throat to create words. Why is it any different?” Knight has been writing all her life; she still has a journal from when she was six years old, and she doesn’t have the heart to throw it away. Her words went from journal entries to poetry, song lyrics and even a master’s thesis. (She recently convocated from the University of Saskatchewan.) The song lyrics turned into four albums, one of which won Best Hip Hop Album at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in 2005. Knight wrote when she was angry, she wrote when she was sad and she wrote the emotions of others. She wrote what she felt, what she heard, but most importantly, what she was learning. And at times, what she was Hip hop artist Lindsay Knight (Eekwol) and her daughter Kisay. The activist incorporates spiritual and historical themes in her music. bridges pHoTo by miCHelle berg learning was frustrating. the U of R. The research labs give ry their activism within the art and Her inner-activist was born. Knight was on a path of aware- from a more spiritual, historical and “And the only way I can do that students the opportunity to engage it certainly comes from a place of an ness — she began studying Native informed place. “(I’d) think about the history of is by recognizing the strengths we in hip hop culture; they can learn to underlying politics of resistance,” Studies at the University of Regina (graduating in 2005) and exploring our people, the aspects of our people have/Power in numbers/We got pow- make beats, write, breakdance and Marsh says. Hip artist Lindsay and her Kisay. The activist incorporates spiritual and historical themes in her music. QCgraffiti PHOTO BY MICHELLE BERG “Lindsay offers a variety of very work. in spirit/I got power in music/I got do anddaughter the dysfunction, poverty and all er her hop roots. Knight isKnight from (Eekwol) Muskoday Marsh has published a number of unique experiences and perspectives First Nation. Most of her teenage of the social issues,” she explains in power in my voice/Hear it!,” she raps By poetry, asong lyrics and even a masthroat toabout create words.She’s Why currentis it any within tions andcalled tribes. And she doesn’t articles title.soft For starters, Knight fairly masculine genre, and Knight. a song Apprento. voice. “I started to lookdoesn’t at his- in yearsAngelina were spent inIrinici Saskatoon. She her ter’sworks thesis. (She recently convocatdifferent?” be pigeonholed — she queslike the aboriginal it’s like against a lot of norms and co-editing a reader with scholarly she “I to could talk about Lindsay and ly andterm colonization andbecause residential was raised in a Cree and Saulteux tory ed from the University of SaskatchKnight has been writing all her cultures tionsmusic why all female put hip-hop been developed defined with by the You may know Eekwol way, as Canada’s of that genre. Her work and articles (the first in Canada), day,” rappers says Dr. are Charity and I wasand bombarded all her traditional ceremonial but she schools, ewan.) The song turned life; she still hasaapiece journal from when contributions in a separate category from profesmales. which government and notand its knowledge. own people.I Marsh, first solo female aboriginal hip was hop of to lyrics her art form into are includes about Knight. University of Regina this information left those traditions when she four albums, one and of which won Best was six years old, and she doesn’t She’s heard people say, “You’re pretShe prefers “indigenous” because artist. provocative important as a “Lindsay is a really important ac- both and Canada Research Chair in she that in my music to speak to the sor younger. Once she came back to used Hip Hop Album atvoice the Canadian have the to throw away.isHer ty good for a girl” far often. Her tivist it reflects an we internaWhather youmusic may not know that reality of political for youngAbinandheart an artist, anditwhat so kind Media andtoo Performance of the the people historyon that don’t Interactive them, started to is reflect on Page 8 words about went from journal to Continued response: words. It’sIMP using your tionalabout levelmuch as being different na- (IMP). Lindsay isn’t of that digenous people.” hip hop is oneentries can marShe“It’s directs the labs at lovely in schools.” that; sheKnight thought — too andfond rapped — hear