Indigenous musicians attending this year’s Juno Awards ceremony in London, Ont. say they don’t need to be grouped into one category.
At the moment, most Indigenous artists of all genres are placed into the Indigenous Music Album of the Year category, despite being very different.
The only exception at the 2019 awards was LoveCollide – two sisters who live in the United States but have roots in the Chippewas of the Thames. They won under best Contemporary Christian Gospel album.
Otherwide, each nominee in the Indigenous Music Album of the Year group carries very different musical styles and Darren “Young D” Metz from the Snotty Nose Rez Kids, says that’s a problem.
“I do take pride in it, but at the same time I think it’s kind of wack,” said Metz. “They put us all into one group. So there’s four or five different genres put into one category, you know what I mean?”
No Indigenous artists were nominated in the rock, country and alternative album of the year categories.
“Yeah and I think that world is ready to hear where we come from. Like we’re in a really good place right now,” he said.
Highlights from the awards show included the winner for the Indigenous Music Album of the Year, Jeremy Dutcher.
Dutcher, whose impassioned acceptance speech included a warning to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that reconciliation does not include building pipelines or sending militarized police onto unceded territory, went up against other Indigenous musicians including Elisapie Iaasc, Leonard Sumner, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Northern Cree.
Read: Juno Awards Nominees List
Dutcher won for his album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa.
The album is entirely in Wolastoqiyik, his indigenous language.
Dutcher says while receiving the award is nice, the real award is sharing his culture with everyone.
“You know I get to go on the broadcast tonight, to be on television and to get to share our songs, our messages, our stories and our language,” he said.
“This is exactly what I wanted to do.”
(Jeremy Dutcher)
Dutcher believes aspiring artists shouldn’t focus so much on the fame but the creative process.
“Create what to need to create, don’t create for anyone else, don’t create for the money, and don’t create for an award. Create for what you know to be true, because your identity and where you sit as a young indigenous person is exactly what this country needs to here right now. So say what you need to say and don’t translate or change that message for anyone.”
The 2019 Juno awards took place Sunday.
APTN News asked the Juno Awards for comment but had not received a reply by the time this article was posted.
Kids these days I tell ya. In regards to Jeremy’s statement; all true, do it from the heart and soul not for money or fame, but dude, if you don’t make money at it you can’t afford to chase the dream. Creation is work and takes time and money. Artist purity is achieved after the rent is paid.
As to SNRK’s comments. the category is valuable to native music in all genres. Native music would be hard pressed to get anywhere near the Juno’s without the category. The main events at the Juno’s are hard fought among rich people much more than awarded to good music. The actual value of the Juno’s is suspect I think. The APTN peoples choice awards is where you want to be, celebrating the culture in all genres as opposed to a begrudged token at the Juno’s.
Actually, this isn’t correct. For JUNO submissions Indigenous musicians are one of three sub groups of artists who are allowed to submit into two categories. They can submit to Indigenous Recording of the year and they can submit in the category for the music genre that they create in, such as rock, hip hop, folk, and so on. Too bad the JUNOs didn’t respond in time to this article since this would have been their answer. Too bad the journalist didn’t investigate further. I’m surprised these artists don’t appear to know this since my experience in past years is that the Indigenous artists usually do know that they have this option when they submit. All artists are free to choose what categories they submit to. No one is forced to submit to a specific category. Indigenous artists or anyone else for that matter. In fact all this journalist had to do was consult the JUNO Submission FAQ sheet on the JUNO website to find this information. “Can I Submit To More Than One Category” “Crossover category: a category that will fit into a type of music based on lyrical reflection but may also fit into a different category based on musical sound. These categories are: Francophone (19), Indigenous Music (29) and Contemporary Christian/Gospel (33).”
Indigenous artists arent placed exclusively into this one single category. they are also welcome to submit and compete in all categories and their respective genres. And then compete against the countries top musicians. A tribe called red has won in best electronic, group , breakthrough , and album of the year I believe. Many Indigenous musicians have been nominated and won in their respective genres. Trail Blazers before us like Buffy fought hard to have this category specific for Indigenous People. I personally am thankful – Rellik