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Aboriginal Recording Of The Year Juno Award winner is Hometown - Burnt Project 1. The five nominees include:

Rattle & Drum - Asani Arbor (EMI)

This contemporary a cappella Aboriginal women's trio officially formed in 1997. Carrying with them the traditional influences of First Nations and Metis music, the group's repertoire is comprised primarily of original compositions in both Woodland Cree and English. Their spectrum of songs reflects their traditions (accompanied by drums and rattles) to contemporary jazz, folk and blues.

Muskrat Blues and Rock & Roll - Billy Joe Green (Thunderboy)

An Anishinabe from the Bear Clan of the Anishinabe Aki Territory, Green has been living the life of a bluesman since his teens. Recognized as one of Canada's premier blues guitar singers for more than three decades, he has worked as a sideman, and since 1999, leader of the Rough & Ready Billy Joe Green Band. A previous JUNO Award nominee (2001), this is his third indie CD.

Hometown - Burnt Project 1 (Sunshine) - THE WINNER!!!

The Winnipeg band is the face and voice of Canada’s cultural mosaic. This dynamic, 11-member ensemble generates a powerful sound that blends blues, jazz, rock, funk and traditional First Nations influences into a unique neo-urban sound.

Life Is... - Eagle & Hawk (Eagle & Hawk)

Influenced by modern rock styles and traditional Aboriginal vocals and rhythms, the band has built a strong fan base across Europe and Turtle Island (America). To date, Eagle & Hawk have toured Europe more than 10 times and entertained audiences cross North America. The group won a JUNO Award in 2002 for Best Music of Aboriginal Canada.

Sinaa - tagaq (Jericho Beach Music Festival Distribution)

Tagaq is Tanya Tagaq Gillis, who was born and raised in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. During her final year at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, she began throat singing - a traditional Inuit vocal game between two women. Since she had no vocal partner, she developed her contemporary, emotional style. She has collaborated with Bj?and Kronos Quartet.

You can listen to clips from each of these Aboriginal artists at http://www.junoawards.ca (clip on the LISTEN TO THE JUNO AWARD NOMINEE box on the right hand side) - You must have the latest Flash Player and have your pop-up blocker disabled to enjoy this enhanced content.

Treaty #3 First Nations are working to establish a justice system that better serves their communities and people (see information below about their Restorative Justice initiative). At the same time a lawyer participating on a panel hosted by Laurentian University's Native Studies department recognizes "the colour of justice in Canada is white".

from http://www.northernlife.ca/localnewsArticle.asp?6id7-pn=&view=108416

No justice for people of colour: lawyer 
BY KEITH LACEY - klacey@northernlife.ca

Racism remains the biggest reason why more than 40 percent of Canada's federal prison population is native or black, says a veteran Sudbury lawyer.

"It's a sad reality, but we have not come very far at all" in treating native offenders in Canada's criminal justice system," says Robert Topp, who has been practising law in Sudbury for more than 30 years.

Topp joined judges, native court workers, other lawyers and professors in a panel sponsored by Laurentian University's native studies program on criminal justice issues affecting aboriginals.

Reading excerpts from an acclaimed book from by University of Windsor native studies professor David Tanovich called The Colour of Justice, Topp said he personally agreed "much more subtle" racism exists throughout Canada's criminal justice system.

"The colour of justice in Canada is white," said Topp.

"The vast majority of violent crime in this country is committed by white people, so why is the majority of our prison population black and native? The problem is a disconnect between the justice system and people of colour.

"There is no system and there is no justice for people of colour in this country and hasn't been for a long, long time."

Until more native people become directly involved in the criminal justice system in positions of authority, the system isn't likely to change, said Topp.

"It's a sad fact of life...and insane to believe that white judges and white lawyers have all the answers," said Topp.

Panels like this can lead to progress and change and the sooner the better, said Topp.

Legal questions must be returned first to the native community so they can be dealt with first in their native communities, he said.

Police Chief Ian Davidson said the time has come for politicians, society and the justice system to address reasons why native homelessness, crime rates, poverty and suicide are so much higher than the general population.

"Individuals who want to make a difference" can help set government policy and ensure these destructive cycles are broken, said Davidson.

Simply throwing native offenders in jail who have lost touch with their native culture, become addicted to drugs and alcohol, and commit crimes is not working and has to change, said Davidson.

Davidson said he's proud of the police service's Mkwa Opportunity Circle, which allows young native people to spend time with front-line officers and encourages them to become involved in law enforcement.

"We're creating the early seeds of making dramatic change in society...we must begin to walk the path together rather than apart," he said.

All officers on the force undergo cultural training and this will continue as long as he's police chief, said Davidson.

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from the Treaty 3 web site at http://treaty3.ca/adminoffice/justice.php

TREATY #3 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE - Pre-Implementation Phase
Funded by Ontario Ministry of Attorney General

Implementation phase to be funded in partnership with Canada Dept. of Justice – Aboriginal Justice Strategy and Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services

Four Treaty #3 First Nations will be the start of a nation wide restorative justice strategy, including:

• Onegaming First Nation
• Lac Seul First Nation
• Grassy Narrows First Nation
• Naicatchewenin First Nation
• The pre-implementation phase involves working directly with the four First Nations and the justice system to be ready to divert pre- and post-charges of members from the four First Nations to a community-based and community-driven justice process.
• Long-term goal is to reduce the number of Treaty #3 members involved in the criminal justice system and address the root causes of the social ills in our communities.
• Initiative will also include developing community-based systems to heal the communities i.e. a family healing centre