An Aboriginal group says their Juno Award represents a major breakthrough not only for the band but for all Aboriginal people.

A Tribe Called Red was named Breakthrough Artists of the Year, becoming the first Indigenous group to win a Juno outside of the Aboriginal music category.

Band member Ian Campeau says there is a message in their music, but it’s mostly about getting people on their feet:

“As producers and DJs all we want to do is make people want to dance.”

Their music is tough to define — it’s part DJ, part hip hop, part electric pow wow and a whole lot of Aboriginal culture. The beat is unique and it is moving people.  Campeau says he never thought in his wildest dreams their work would get the recognition it has:

“No, not at all, not even close. We’ve shattered any expectation we ever had with this project of A Tribe Called Red.  It has been really, really exciting and every day there is something new.”

Campeau says the band decided not to enter its work in the Aboriginal category, opting instead to go up against mainstream artists.

The gamble paid off.  Campeau says the win is proof that First Nations people can accomplish anything they want:

“You know, A Tribe Called Red winning that Juno, it means that any goal for any Aboriginal youth is attainable.  So they have to realize that and aim as high as they can.”

There will be no rest for the band.  Right now, it’s on tour on the US West Coast, then they head overseas for several shows in France, then it is back to the US to perform in New Orleans.

When they are not on tour, A Tribe Called Red will be in the studio working on its next album.

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