With the 2015 Juno Awards on the way, the whole country is buzzing about the five Aboriginal artists nominated to receive the prestigious award. In 2014, Aboriginal performing artists broke out of the box and crashed onto the mainstream music scene showing that they will not be categorized. This year, these artists are being awarded for their excellence in creating a space for Indigenous people on the national stage.

This is not just an accolade, but also a symbol of something greater: the persistent and determined reclamation of Indigenous culture, by and for Indigenous people.

Without further adieu, check out some of these cool tracks from the 2015 Juno Awards Indigenous nominees:

ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

Tanya Tagaq for Animism

ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

Crystal Shawanda for The Whole World’s Got the Blues

Digging Roots for For The Light

Leela Gilday for Heart of the People

Tanya Tagaq for Animism

Tomson Highway for [songs from] The (Post) Mistress
Since we were unable to find any online streams from this album, check out MUSKRAT’s exclusive interview with Tomson Highway:

TOMSON HIGHWAY TALKS TWO-SPIRITS, LOVE, AND PERFORMANCE

Congratulations from MUSKRAT Magazine!