‘Tribe’ breaking through at Junos

By Marci Becking

OTTAWA –  Ian Campeau, aka DeeJayNDN  and one-third A Tribe Called Red, says that being nominated  for the Juno Awards’ Breakthrough Group of the Year is  a breakthrough in itself.

“It’s a breakthrough for First Nations people to be nominated – we’re the first to be nominated in that category,” says Campeau, a citizen of Nipissing First Nation.

Campeau, along with fellow group members DJ Shrub and Bear Witness, released their second album, Nation II Nation last year, which is also nominated for Electronic Album of the Year.

“Nation II Nation means relationships on so many levels,” says Campeau.  “I’m Anishinabek and the other two in the group are Haudenosaunee.  It can mean First Nation to First Nation.”

The group has toured all over North America and will be traveling to France and Norway in the spring.

“They don’t understand colonization in Europe,” he says.  “Hard to explain colonization to the people of a country who helped do the colonizing.  They don’t understand politics, but they enjoy the music.”

The music from this producer/DJ crew is signature-style called Pow-wow Step, mixing traditional Pow-wow vocals and drumming with cutting-edge electronic beats.

“We all grew up around pow-wows,” says Campeau.   “I come from a musical family – my dad encouraged me and pushed me in the right direction.  There isn’t a type of music I don’t like.”

Campeau received a lot of media attention last year with his Twitter campaign #changethename  that led to the Nepean Redskins football team change their name to Nepean Eagles.

“I had offered to fundraise for new uniforms, but still haven’t heard from them,” he says. “The #changethename campaign was my thing, but the group deals with First Nations issues as they come.”

A Tribe Called Red’s next album will include other indigenous talent.

“We’re going to have indigenous rappers, musicians and singers on the next album,” says Campeau.  “It will be a new sound for us.”

Campeau won’t be star-struck at the Junos – Canada’s national music awards — but enjoys hanging out with George Leach from Sta’atl’imx Nation.  Leach is nominated for Aboriginal Album of the Year.

“He’s a big star,” says Campeau.

A Tribe Called Red will be performing at JunoFest in Winnipeg during the week of March 24.  For more information on A Tribe Called Red’s music and tour dates, go to www.atribecalledred.com.