Kjipuktuk, Halifax, NS – Destination Indigenous (part of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada) is proud to have sponsored the JUNO Awards category — Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year Award — at the JUNO Opening Night Awards held in Halifax on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
At the Opening Night Awards, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada’s (ITAC) Creative Manager, Zane Buchanan, presented Elisapie with the Contemporary Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year Award for her album Inuktitut. Destination Indigenous congratulates all other nominees in this award category: Aysanabee, Here and Now; Blue Moon Marquee; Scream, Holler & Howl; Shawnee Kish, Revolution; and Zoon, Bekka Ma’iingan for their notable albums.
“Destination Indigenous is honoured to sponsor the Contemporary Indigenous Artist/Group Award at the 2024 JUNO Awards. This partnership reflects our commitment to celebrating and promoting Indigenous artists’ incredible talent and creativity across Canada. We believe in the power of music to bridge cultures and unite communities, and we’re proud to support this recognition of excellence in Indigenous music.”
– Keith Henry, President and CEO of ITAC
Prior to the JUNO Opening Night Awards, Destination Indigenous also presented a sold-out Indigenous Honouring Ceremony at Pier 21 – Canadian Museum of Immigration. Chef Ray Bear curated and prepared the food and beverage menu in the reception that followed. Local Mi’kmaq programming featuring Michael R. Denny, Sarah Prosper, Morgan Toney, Youth Kojua Dancers and The Red River Ramblers (Métis) took place in addition to hosting The Original Original artisan market that showcased Indigenous businesses and artisans from the region. Moreover, ITAC’s Creative Content Manager, Zane Buchanan, delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of the association.
This year, 38 Indigenous award nominees were in the running across all categories. Congratulations to all nominees!