From Igloolik to Nashville: Indigenous Juno nominees show their range in 2021

There may not be the usual red carpet event for the Juno Awards this year, but artists are still anxious for Canada's biggest night in music.

This week on Unreserved, from Igloolik to Nashville, we're visiting with all the nominees for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. 

For more than 20 years, Julian Taylor has been writing, performing and recording music. But his latest album, The Ridge, landed him his first two Juno nominations. Taylor reflects on being a Black and Indigenous musician, and explains why he chose not to include a photo of himself on the cover of his album 

Leela Gilday has been a working musician for decades, and has seen the Indigenous category at the Junos evolve over that time. Nominated for two awards this year, Gilday calls her latest record, Northstar Calling, "more Leela" than any of her previous work.

A self-taught singer/songwriter, Terry Uyarak writes and sings entirely in Inuktitut about his life as a father, a husband and hunter in the north on his Juno-nominated debut record, Nunarjua Isulinginniani. 

Crystal Shawanda was writing her third country album when she realized, eight songs in, that she didn't like any of them. Since her move to the blues genre, three of her four records have been nominated for Juno Awards. This year, Church House Blues is also up for Blues Album of the Year. 

The duo known as Burnstick is made up of wife and husband Nadia Gaudet and Jason Burnstick. Their folk album, Kîyânaw, means "we and you" or "us" in Nehiyaw. They explain why making music is a family affair. 

This week's playlist:

Julian Taylor — The Ridge

Leela Gilday — Space 

Terry Uyarak — Aniqsaatuinnarit

Crystal Shawanda — Church House Blues

Burnstick — Pay No Mind