Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year Facts for Kids

The Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year is a special prize given out every year by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It celebrates the best music album made by an Indigenous Canadian artist or group. This award helps shine a light on the amazing musical talent of Indigenous people in Canada.

Even though there's a specific award for Indigenous music, Indigenous artists can also win in other Juno Award categories. Some artists, like The Halluci Nation, have even chosen to compete only in the general categories, not the Indigenous one.

The award has changed its name a few times over the years. When it first started in 1994, it was called Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording. Later, it became Aboriginal Recording of the Year (from 2003 to 2009) and then Aboriginal Album of the Year (from 2010 to 2016). Finally, in 2017, it became the Indigenous Music Album of the Year.

Singer Tanya Tagaq was the 2015 recipient of the award for her album Animism.

In the very first year of the award, there was a discussion about one of the nominees, Sazacha Red Sky. She was nominated for a song called "The Prayer Song." Some people thought she didn't have the right to record it based on cultural traditions. However, it was later clarified that the song was in the public domain, meaning anyone could use it. The issue was resolved, and her nomination was changed to reflect her whole album, Red Sky Rising, instead of just the song.

More recently, some Indigenous artists have talked about whether this special category should continue. Some feel it might make their music seem like it's only for a small group of people, not for everyone. They think it might "ghettoize" their music, meaning it's put into a separate box instead of being seen as part of mainstream music. But others believe the award is very important. They say it helps Indigenous music get noticed and gives a platform to artists who might not otherwise get nominations in the bigger, more competitive categories.

In 2019, the Juno Awards decided to rename the category again for the 2020 ceremony. It became Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. This change was made to help people understand that the award is meant to celebrate the achievements of Indigenous artists themselves, not just their albums.

Then, in 2021, even more changes were announced for the Juno Awards of 2022. The single Indigenous category was split into two new awards: Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year and Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year. This helps recognize the different styles of Indigenous music being made today.

Award Winners Through the Years
More About Indigenous Music

Award Winners Through the Years

This section lists some of the talented artists and their albums who have won this important award over the years.

Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording (1994–2002)

Year	Winner(s)	Album	Nominees
1994	Wapistan	Wapistan Is Lawrence Martin	"Booglatamooti (The Indian Song)" – J. Hubert Francis and Eagle Feather "Grandfather" – J. Hubert Francis and Eagle Feather "Stoney Park" – Stoney Park Singers "The Prayer Song" (revised to Red Sky Rising) – Sazacha Red Sky
1995	Susan Aglukark	Arctic Rose	Akua Tuta – Kashtin Blue Voice/New Voice – Jani Lauzon Music for the Native Americans – Robbie Robertson and The Red Road Ensemble No Regrets – Tom Jackson
1996	Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat	ETSI Shon "Grandfather Song"	Dancing Around the World – Red Bull Message – Wapistan Sacred Ground – Jess Lee This Child – Susan Aglukark
1997	Buffy Sainte-Marie	Up Where We Belong	Freedom – Chester Knight and the Wind Innu Town – Claude McKenzie Go Back – Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat Tudjaat – Tudjaat
1998	Mishi Donovan	The Spirit Within	Little Island Cree - World Hand Drum Champions – Little Island Cree with Clayton Chief Necessary – No Reservations That Side of the Window – Tom Jackson Walk Away – Fara Palmer
1999	Robbie Robertson	Contact from the Underworld of Redboy	Hearts of the Nations – The 1997 Aboriginal Women's Voices Group Message from a Drum – J. Hubert Francis and Eagle Feather Thirst – Jani Lauzon Welcome to the Playground – TKO
2000	Chester Knight and the Wind	Falling Down	Love that Strong – Elizabeth Hill To Bring Back Yesterday – Fara Palmer Touch the Earth and Sky – Vern Cheechoo World Hand Drum Champions '98 – Red Bull
2001	Florent Vollant	Nipaiamianan	Figure Love Out – John Gracie Journey Home – Mishi Donovan Run As One – C-Weed Unsung Heroes – Susan Aglukark
2002	Eagle & Hawk	On and On	Crazy Maker – Marcel Gagnon Dark Realm – Nakoda Lodge My Ojibway Experience: Strength & Hope – Billy Joe Green Riel's Road – Sandy Scofield

Aboriginal Recording of the Year (2003–2009)

Year	Winner(s)	Album	Nominees
2003	Derek Miller	Lovesick Blues	The Right Combination – Vern Cheechoo and Lawrence Martin spirit world solid wood – Leela Gilday Standing Strong – Chester Knight Round Dance the Night Away – Randy Wood
2004	Susan Aglukark	Big Feeling	The Avenue – Burnt Project 1 Mother Earth – Eagle & Hawk Ketwam – Sandy Scofield In Honour of Percy Dreaver – Whitefish Jrs.
2005	Taima	Taima	Green Dress – Wayne Lavallee Full Circle – Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter KATAKu – Florent Vollant Pishimuss – Claude McKenzie
2006	Burnt Project 1	Hometown	Life Is... – Eagle & Hawk Muskrat Blues and Rock & Roll – Billy Joe Green Rattle & Drum – Asani Sinaa – Tanya Tagaq
2007	Leela Gilday	Sedzé	Blood Red Earth – Susan Aglukark Burn – Jason Burnstick Seeds – Digging Roots Stay Red – Northern Cree
2008	Derek Miller	The Dirty Looks	Home and Native Land – Little Hawk Nikawiy Askiy – Sandy Scofield Phoenix – Fara Palmer What It Takes – Donny Parenteau
2009	Buffy Sainte-Marie	Running for the Drum	Auk/Blood – Tanya Tagaq First Law of the Land – Billy Joe Green No Lies – Tracy Bone The World (And Everything In It) – Team Rezofficial

Aboriginal Album of the Year (2010–2016)

Year	Winner(s)	Album	Nominees
2010	Digging Roots	We Are...	Distant Morning Star – Digawolf Swagger – Lucie Idlout Sing Soul Girl – Inez Jasper Trail of Tears – Wayne Lavallee
2011	CerAmony	CerAmony	The Black Star – Joey Stylez Derek Miller with Double Trouble – Derek Miller The Great Unknown – Eagle & Hawk Vigilance – Little Hawk
2012	Murray Porter	Songs Lived and Life Played	Speakers of Tomorrow – Bruthers of Different Muthers One Nation – Flying Down Thunder and Rise Ashen To Whom it May Concern – Donny Parenteau The Gift of Life – Randy Wood
2013	Crystal Shawanda	Just Like You	Heart on My Sleeve – Don Amero The Black List – Burnt Project 1 Samples – Janet Panic Bring It On – Donny Parenteau
2014	George Leach	Surrender	Keep a Fire – Amanda Rheaume Small Town Stories – Desiree Dorion Burn Me Down – Inez Jasper Road Renditions – Nathan Cunningham
2015	Tanya Tagaq	Animism	The Whole World's Got the Blues – Crystal Shawanda For the Light – Digging Roots Heart of the People – Leela Gilday The (Post) Mistress – Tomson Highway
2016	Buffy Sainte-Marie	Power in the Blood	The One – Armond Duck Chief Come and Get Your Love: The Tribe Session – Black Bear Rumble – Derek Miller Refined – Don Amero

Indigenous Music Album of the Year (2017–2021)

Year	Winner(s)	Album	Nominees
2017	Quantum Tangle	Tiny Hands	Fish Out of Water – Crystal Shawanda Round Dance & Beats (Powwow) – Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie Debut – Silla + Rise Earthly Days – William Prince
2018	Buffy Sainte-Marie	Medicine Songs	PowWowStep – DJ Shub Here & Now – Indian City The Fight Within – Iskwé Sedna – Kelly Fraser
2019	Jeremy Dutcher	Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa	The Ballad of the Runaway Girl – Elisapie Nitisanak - Brother and Sister – Northern Cree The Average Savage – Snotty Nose Rez Kids Standing in the Light – Leonard Sumner
2020	Celeigh Cardinal	Stories from a Downtown Apartment	Yellowstone – Digawolf nipiy – nêhiyawak Siqinnaarut – Northern Haze ataataga – Riit
2021	Leela Gilday	North Star Calling	Kîyânaw — Burnstick Church House Blues — Crystal Shawanda The Ridge — Julian Taylor Nunarjua Isulinginniani — Terry Uyarak

More About Indigenous Music

Aboriginal music of Canada
Aboriginal Canadian personalities

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Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year facts for kids

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