(Submitted Photo/Marc Longjohn)

By Derek Craddock

MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT

Treaty 6 First Nations part of JUNO nominated Indigenous group

Feb 14, 2024 | 8:00 AM

From the traditional lands of Treaty 6 territory to the biggest stage in Canadian music, one band still can’t believe they’re headed to the JUNOS.

Last week, the nominations for the 2024 JUNO Awards were announced and one of the categories being awarded is Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. Among the five nominees this year is Young Scouts, a group composed of drummers and signers from several First Nations including Little Pine First Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, and Enoch Cree Nation.

Mark Longjohn is one of the founding members of the group and hails from Sturgeon Lake First Nation outside Prince Albert. He helped form the group with friends from Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation and Muskoday First Nation.

He told paNOW that when he found out Young Scouts was nominated, he couldn’t believe it.

“To be recognized nationally at that level, it’s an extreme honour to be seen across our country and to be recognized amongst some of the elite musicians of Canada.”

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The band was recognized for its recent album Drum Nation, which was released a little more than a year ago.

Also up for the award is Joel Wood, a Cree artist from Maskwacis, Alta, Nimkii and the Niniis from Wiikwemkoong, Ontario, The Bearhead Sisters from Paul First Nation, Alta, and Metis musicians The Red River Ramblers. The Bearhead Sisters were last year’s winner for their album Unbreakable.

When asked what it would mean to not only win the JUNO but do so on behalf of the different First Nations in the group, Longjohn was lost for words at first but later said it would give them a sense of pride.

“All of those years of learning from the Elder singers, doing our best to try to preserve the integrity of our traditional music. To be recognized and then to win would be so amazing because our music is beautiful, it’s been here for years,” he said. “To win would be one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever achieved in my singing career.”

Longjohn is hopeful that the success of Young Scouts will help inspire young Indigenous artists to not shy away from honing their craft and sharing their talents and love of traditional music.

“Always remember where you came from. Always remember your teaching and always have respect for your culture and your heritage, because that will take you a long way. It’ll take you through school, it’ll help you become a better person and it might even get you recognized at a national level,” he said.

“Just be thankful that if you have a gift from the Creator, don’t be stingy with it, don’t hold it to yourself. Share it with the rest of the world.”

The 2024 JUNO Awards are scheduled to take place on March 24 in Halifax.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com