The Canadian music awards JUNO, are changing the name of the Aboriginal Album Of The Year to Indigenous Music Album Of The Year. The name is being changed to acknowledge all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada.
The JUNO award has been awarded to Indigenous artists since 1994, although the name has been changed a few times since then. The award was originally called The Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording then changed to Aboriginal Recording of the Year in 2003 and a slight variation in 2010 from “Recording” to “Album.”
CARAS/The JUNO Awards president and CEO Alan Reid said of the changes “The renaming of this award to Indigenous Music Album of the Year aims to honour, respect and acknowledge the Indigenous peoples of Canada and their long-standing contributions to the Canadian music industry and their rich history in this country. At CARAS we always strive to provide equal celebration for all of Canada’s diverse musical specialities.”
Alan Greyeyes, Chair of the JUNO Awards Indigenous Music Album of the Year Music Advisory explained “Our committee asked CARAS to consider the change because we felt that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People provided a stronger foundation for our collective movement than what had been established around the term ‘Aboriginal. Our music community is made up of artists from many Nations who bring their own languages, perspectives, truths, and styles to the table and I’m glad that CARAS is committed to helping us share these gifts with audiences and media here on Turtle Island and beyond.”
The Indigenous Music Album Of The Year award which is Sponsored by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, will be presented at this year’s JUNO gala dinner on April 1 in Ottawa, followed by the live televised ceremony of other categories on CTV. Nominees will be announced on Tuesday, February 7, 2017
The most Juno awarded Indigenous artist in the organization’s history is none other than Buffy Sainte-Marie. The iconic singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, social activist, educator, philanthropist and visual artist, has been known around the world for over 50 years. Today at 75 years old, she is still touring with her music and art. This year she has been awarded 2017 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. For her dedication to protecting Indigenous communities and Indigenous intellectual property, her voice against the residential schools of Canada, and the missing and murdered Indigenous women.
With this prestigious JUNO, it will bring Buffy Sainte-Marie’s total to four awards. At last year’s live ceremony, the icon gave a spoken word performance after winning the Indigenous Music Album Of The Year award. You can watch her performance below.
We are thrilled and honoured to feature the music 2014 JUNO award winner George Leach in season 1 of Tribal Police Files! To learn more about George’s music check out his website here.
1994 Wapistan – Wapistan Is Lawrence Martin
1995 Susan Aglukark – Arctic Rose
1996 Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat – ETSI Shon “Grandfather Song”
1997 Buffy Sainte-Marie – Up Where We Belong
1998 Mishi Donovan – The Spirit Within
1999 Robbie Robertson – Contact from the Underworld of Redboy
2000 Chester Knight and the Wind – Falling Down
2001 Florent Vollant – Nipaiamianan
2002 Eagle & Hawk – On and On
2003 Derek Miller – Lovesick Blues
2004 Susan Aglukark – Big Feeling
2005 Taima – Taima
2006 Burnt Project – Hometown
2007 Leela Gilday – Sedzé
2008 Derek Miller – The Dirty Looks
2009 Buffy Sainte-Marie – Running for the Drum
2010 Digging Roots – We Are
2011 CerAmony – CerAmony
2012 Murray Porter – Songs Lived and Life Played
2013 Crystal Shawanda – Just Like You
2014 George Leach – Surrender
2015 Tanya Tagaq – Animism
2016 Buffy Sainte-Marie – Power in the Blood
