The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry while contributing to the elevation of higher artistic and industry standards. Through its JUNO Music Awards, which evolved into being in 1971, an incredible array of talent spanning all manner of genres has been recognized and honoured. Among these have been Indigenous musicians whose contributions, like their predecessors, continue to influence and shape the sound of popular music. This year Celebration of Nations launches its three-day gathering with a spectacular concert featuring 2020 JUNO winning Indigenous Artist of the Year Celeigh Cardinal (Métis) — and — 2020 JUNO Contemporary Roots Album of the Year winner Lee Harvey Osmond (Mohawk). These two exceptional talents will rock the house, your house, during the live online concert, performing tracks from their award winning albums, Stories From A Downtown Apartment and Mohawk, respectively. These two world-class artists are deservedly receiving national accolades and are not to be missed. Join us as we shake off the coronavirus blues with our Indigenous JUNO Award VIP Showcase Special.

“I’ve always connected with artists whose voices resonate; you can feel it in your body. That is what I’ve always wanted to be.”

With a confident voice and boundless energy, Celeigh Cardinal owns a stage connecting deeply with her audience through humour, passion and love. Whether sweetly strumming an acoustic guitar or leading her band in a rocking rave-up, she commands our attention. Her singing is rich and deep with a burnished maturity and a nimble technical virtuosity that wraps itself around notes with a purr, a snarl or something in the middle. Her songs are authentic and heartfelt and connect us to the healing power of music. Cardinal has received multiple awards for her two full-length albums. Most recently, she was the recipient of the 2020 Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year and received nominations at the Western Canadian Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Indigenous Artist of the Year.