Flying Down Thunder Dreams Big with Culture

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Kevin Chief, aka Flying Down Thunder of the Juno-nominated duo Flying Down Thunder and Rise Ashen, speaks on the origins of their cross-cultural collaboration and inspirations.

I got a chance to pick the brain of Ottawa-based artist Kevin Chief aka Flying Down Thunder of the Algonquin Nation, Loon clan, about his inspirations for his musical process, how the group Flying Down Thunder and Rise Ashen formed, and his words of advice for youth.

STREAM: Flying Down Thunder Dreams Big with Culture

2012 Juno Awards and Aboriginal Nominees

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Canada's annual celebration of artistic and technical achievements in music, the JUNOS, announced the 2012 nominees yesterday. Here are the Indigenous artists in the running!

The "Canadian Grammys" - chosen by members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences or determined by sales or a panel of experts - cover 44 "best of" categories. This year, the celebration will be hosted by William Shatner at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario.

The most notable Aboriginal presence at the JUNOs is the Aboriginal Album of the Year award - the existence of which is at times contentious in the community as, unlike the other award categories, it is not genre specific. It does however acknowledge and celebrate music made by Aboriginal artists, in any genre, and we're sending heartfelt congratulations to those nominated this year!

That said, Métis country star Terri Clarke is nominated in the Country Album of the Year category - congrats Terri!

Here are the nominees for Aboriginal Album of the Year, 2012:

Bruthers of Different Muthers Speakers of Tomorrow

Donny Parenteau To Whom It May Concern

Flying Down Thunder and Rise Ashen One Nation

Murray Porter Songs Lived & Life Played

Randy Wood The Gift of Life