Jeremy Dutcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeremy Dutcher
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 8, 1990 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Origin | Fredericton |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, pianist, composer, activist |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels |
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Jeremy Dutcher is a talented Canadian musician. He is an Indigenous artist who sings, plays piano, and writes music. He also works as an activist for important causes.
He became well-known for his first album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. This album won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize and a Juno Award in 2019. Jeremy Dutcher currently lives in Montréal, Québec.
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About Jeremy Dutcher
Jeremy Dutcher is a member of the Tobique First Nation. This is a community of the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people in New Brunswick, Canada. He studied music and anthropology at Dalhousie University.
He first trained as an opera singer. Opera is a type of classical music. Later, he also learned and began to perform the traditional songs of his community.
His First Album
Jeremy Dutcher created his first album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, after a special research project. He studied old recordings of traditional Maliseet songs. These recordings were kept at the Canadian Museum of History. Many of these songs are no longer taught to young people today.
His album helped bring these important songs back to life. It was a big success and won major awards.
His Latest Album
In 2023, Jeremy Dutcher released another album called Motewolonuwok. This album also features songs in the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy language. It also includes some songs in English.
Motewolonuwok was nominated for a Juno Award in 2024. It also won the 2024 Polaris Music Prize. This made Jeremy Dutcher the first artist to win the Polaris Music Prize twice!
TV Appearances
In 2022, Jeremy Dutcher was a guest judge. He appeared on an episode of the TV show Canada's Drag Race.
Awards and Achievements
Jeremy Dutcher has won several important awards for his music.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee/Work | Result | Ref |
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| 2018 | Polaris Music Prize | Shortlisted | Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa | Won | |
| 2019 | Juno Awards | Indigenous Music Album of the Year | Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa | Won | |
| 2024 | Adult Alternative Album of the Year | Motewolonuwok | Nominated | ||
| 2024 | Polaris Music Prize | Shortlisted | Motewolonuwok | Won |
Activism and Advocacy
Jeremy Dutcher uses his platform to speak out about important issues. He is an activist for both Indigenous rights and LGBTQ+ rights.
Indigenous Language and Culture
Dutcher works to keep the Wolastoq culture and language alive through his music. He wants to inspire young Indigenous people to understand how important their language is.
He explained that recording in his native Wolastoq language helps change the idea that Canadian music must only be in English or French. He asked, "Why have there been no popular records in my language until now?"
At the Juno Awards in 2019, Jeremy Dutcher used his acceptance speech to talk about how the Canadian government works with Indigenous peoples. Even though his speech was cut short, the band Arkells later gave him their speaking time so he could finish. The next night, he performed "Sakomawit" from his album on national television. He performed in front of black and white photos of his Wolastoq ancestors.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Jeremy Dutcher also identifies as two-spirit. This is a term used by some Indigenous North Americans. It describes Indigenous people who have a special cultural role in their community.
He has worked for Egale Canada, a national human rights organization for LGBT people. He speaks about how Indigenous and queer identities connect. He also points out that the Maliseet language does not use gendered pronouns. He encourages people to think about gender in ways that are "less Western."
Discography
- Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa (2018)
- Motewolonuwok (2023)
