Indigenous Music Awards facts for kids
The Indigenous Music Awards are a special yearly event in Canada. They celebrate the amazing musical talent of Indigenous artists. These awards used to be called the Aboriginal Peoples' Choice Music Awards.
The awards get help from the Department of Canadian Heritage, which is a part of the Canadian government. The show is also broadcast on television by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), so many people can watch it.
About the Awards
The Indigenous Music Awards are a big deal for Indigenous musicians. They recognize artists who create all kinds of music, from traditional songs to modern pop and rock. It's a chance to celebrate their hard work and unique sounds.
A Discussion About Culture in 2019
In 2019, there was an important discussion around the awards. Some Inuit artists, like Tanya Tagaq and Kelly Fraser, decided not to take part. They were concerned about something called cultural appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is when someone takes something from another culture, like a song, a dance, or a style, without truly understanding or respecting its original meaning. It can feel like taking something that doesn't belong to you, especially if it's from a group that has faced challenges.
The concern in 2019 was about a Cree artist named Connie LeGrande. She was nominated for an award for an album that included throat singing. Throat singing is a very special and traditional form of singing for the Inuit. Some Inuit artists felt that because LeGrande was Cree and performed the throat singing herself, it was an example of cultural appropriation. They believed that if someone outside the Inuit culture wanted to use throat singing, they should work with an Inuit artist.
Connie LeGrande explained her side, saying that throat singing is not only practiced by Inuit people. She also said she wasn't trying to copy the Inuit style of throat singing. This situation led to many important conversations about how different cultures can share and respect each other's traditions in music.
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