North America hasn’t been a traditionally kind place for native peoples. America holds most of the blame for the mistreatment, but Neither Mexico or Canada have perfect records either.

And even in places where harm wasn’t done to the first people directly, we don’t spend enough time or money learning about them and their cultures as we should. No – we’re not trying to guilt-trip you, we’re setting up an intro for the band A Tribe Called Red, who is made up of four different individuals, who all have ties to Canadian native communities.

Their music is a mix of native traditional music, hip hop, electronic, and pretty much any other genre they feel like adding in when they’re in the studio. Their concerts are a heady experience – with no drugs required.

Making the Band

The band came together in 2007, when DJ Ian Campeau, Tim Hill, and Bear Witness came together. Their tribal affiliations are Nipissing First Nation, Cayuga First Nation, and Six Nations of the Grand River, in order.

They messed around and created a for just-for-fun EP’s the first years they were together. Finally, they decided to try their luck professionally in 2012. That’s when they put out their first album, A Tribe Called Red. That album got a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize for it’s unique sound and dedication to Canada’s beginnings.

Nation II Nation

Nation II Nation is the groups’ second album, which got even closer to winning the Polaris Music Prize than their first. It’s also the album that helped them win a Juno Award for Breakthrough Album of the Year. Most recently, they put out We Are the Halluci Nation, which features Mos Def and another aboriginal group, Black Bear.