Miles Morrisseau
ICT
Indigenous musical artists in Canada are being recognized at the highest levels, taking home some of the year’s top prizes at the annual Juno Awards with outstanding music across multiple genres.
The Snotty Nosed Rez Kids, Haisla Nation, led the way by taking home one of the night’s biggest awards, Rap Album of the Year, for their release, “Red Future.”
The duo of Darren “Young D” Metz and Quentin “Yung Trybez” have been nominated three times in the past, but this was their first win and the first for an Indigenous artist in the category. They were also nominated this year in two other categories, for Rap Single of the Year for the song, “BBE” and for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Band.
“I think I can speak for both of us, when I say that we really love rap music, we really love hip hop which is why this award means so much to us,” Yung Trybez said. “We made this album to add voices to the Indigenous people in the future. We created a vision for ourselves and where we see ourselves in the future. And what Indigenous excellence truly looks like.”
The highlight of the awards night presentation was the performance by the Kids with Tia Woods, Saddle Lake Cree Nation, who was also up for an award.Contrary to the It would seem the future is now because Indigenous artists were representing in numerous categories and winning.
The 2025 Juno Awards — the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards — were handed out Sunday, March 30, in Vancouver, British Columbia, with host Michael Bublé.
Adult Alternative Album of the Year
Elisapie, ‘Inuktitut’
Elisapie, Inuk, won the award for Best Adult Alternative Album for her release, “Inuktitut.” The album features covers of contemporary pop songs from a wide array of artists including Metallica, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Cyndi Lauper and more, all performed in the Inuktitut language.
The album is literally unlike anything you have ever heard, and also received a nomination in the highly coveted Album of the Year category.
“This is so beautiful and so heavy,” Elisapie said after greeting the audience in her language. “I am so proud to be an Inuk woman. I am so proud to be singing in my language. I would just like to say ‘thank you’ to all the artists who accepted and let me translate their songs that have meant so much to us.”
Classical Composition of the Year
Deantha Edmunds, ‘Angmalukisaa’
Another big win for Indigenous music that signals how Indigenous artists are creating and elevating in a variety of musical genres was Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds, who took home the award for Classical Composition of the Year for “Angmalukisaa.”
Edmunds composed and performed the music in collaboration with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.
Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
Black Bear Singers, ‘New Comings’
Black Bear Singers took home the award for Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year, for their latest, “New Comings.” Also nominated in the category were Brianna Lizotte for “Winston and I”; Cree Confederation for “Travelling Home”; Northern Cree for “REZilience”; and Young Spirit for “Ostesihtowin/Brotherhood.”
Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
Sebastian Gaskin, ‘Brown Man’
The big prize for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year went to Sebastian Gaskin for his release, “Brown Man.” The other nominees include Adrian Sutherland for “Precious Diamonds,” Tia Wood for “Pretty Red Bird,” Celeigh Cardinal for “Boundless Possibiities,” and the Snotty Nose Rez Kids for “Red Future.”
Other nominees
Indigenous artists and groups were nominated in a variety of other categories, as well, including Blues, Adult Contemporary and Children’s Album.
*Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble): Luminous Voices, a Calgary-based chamber choir, was nominated for “Ispiciwin,” a project by Cree Composer Andrew Balfour. Ispiciwin means “journey” in Cree. Additional artists in the project include Walter Macdonald White Bear of Moose Factory Cree Nation, who performs the Native American courting flute, and Jessica McMann, Cowessis First Nation, on bass flute. The winner in the category was the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
*Blues Album of the Year: Blue Moon Marquee received a nomination for Blues Album of the Year for their release,”New Orleans Session.” The band led by A.W. Cardinal, Métis-Cree, took home the award last year for their album, “Scream, Holler and Howl.” The winner was Big Dave McLean for “This Old Life.”
*Children’s Album of the Year: Kym Gouchie, Lheidli T’enneh Nation, was nominated for Children’s Album of the Year for “Shun Beh Nats’ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs.” The winner was Raffi and The Good Lovelies for “Penny Penguin.”
*Adult Contemporary Album of the Year: Celeigh Cardinal, Cree, was nominated for “Boundless Possibilities.” The winner was Maia Davies for “Lovers’ Gothic.”
*Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Elenee, Metis Nation–Saskatchewan/Greek was nominated for her self-titled release, “Elenee.” The winner was Ryan Ofei, “Restore.”
*Contemporary Roots Album of the Year: Julian Taylor, West India/Mohawk, was nominated for his album, “Pathways.” The winner was Kaia Kater, “Strange Medicine.”
*Alternative Album of the Year: Ruby Waters, Slovak/Métis, was nominated for her release, “What’s the Point?” The winner was Nemahsis for “Verbathim.”
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