Acclaimed Indigenous singer-songwriter Kym Gouchie has just been nominated for a 2025 JUNO Award in the Children’s Album of the Year category for her latest album, Shun Beh Nats’ujeh/We Are Healing Through Songs.
“I can’t believe this is real,” Gouchie said about the announcement.
“This album is really special because I feel this one is not about me. It’s really truly about everyone who has gone before me and those who are still yet to be because it’s so connected to language and culture and history. I would never profess to be a language speaker – I’m probably at a Grade 1 level or less because it’s something I did not grow up speaking. It was only as an adult that I learned the importance of language preservation.”
Gouchie, a proud member of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation with Secwépemc and Cree roots, has long been known for her powerful storytelling and soulful voice and knows there is a risk of losing the Lheidli (Dakelh) language.
“I have the opportunity to preserve language in my music, in my art and so that’s what I’m doing,” Gouchie said.
“I was able to get a grant from the Canada Council to record an album of children’s music in my ancestral languages and that’s what this album is about. It’s about me going into my past, it’s about a lot of research to uncover stories and history that I never would have known before and having those conversations with my community members and family members around language and its importance.”
Gouchie is granddaughter to language keeper Mary Gouchie, who passed away Jan. 24, 2019.
“When she left this earthly plane, I felt even more of a calling to do something with the words that she had helped me craft into music,” Gouchie said. “And that’s where Atsoo Shun, a song on the album, comes from.”
Gouchie wrote the song in 2008, kept it from another project that just didn’t seem the right fit for it at the time, kept a recording of her grandmother’s voice on a CD and unearthed the long-kept treasure in time to make it a piece of the song on her children’s album recorded last year in Smithers.
“And it didn’t even matter that it sounded rustic because we wanted that,” Gouchie said. “That part for me and the fact that my grandmother has been gone for a lot of years and that the language is being heard by people around the world and her voice is there is such an incredible legacy and just knowing that the potential to win an award which will open it up to the world even more makes it that much more special.”
Gouchie's children’s album reflects her deep commitment to fostering connection between young listeners and Indigenous culture. Through joyful melodies, traditional teachings, and the inclusion of Indigenous languages, Gouchie invites children and families of all backgrounds to engage with stories rooted in the land and community.
The album holds a deeply personal connection for Gouchie, intertwining her family’s voices and her community’s wisdom as listeners hear the echoes of her grandmother’s voice, the steady rhythm of her mother’s heartbeat, and the infectious laughter of her grandchildren.
Created over a span of four years in consultation with language holders and Elders, the album is both a joyful celebration and a powerful tool for preserving Indigenous language and cultural teachings. Each song captures a different lesson or teaching, presented in a musically engaging and playful way that resonates with children while honouring deep-rooted traditions.
In addition to her musical achievements, Gouchie is a tireless advocate for Indigenous representation in the arts. She is widely respected for her efforts to Indigenize touring practices — favouring deep, meaningful engagements with communities over fast-paced performances. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, respect for the land, and the creation of lasting relationships with audiences and collaborators alike.
Over the years, Gouchie has graced stages from intimate community gatherings to major festivals, captivating audiences with songs that blend folk, roots, and Indigenous traditions. Her children’s album is a continuation of this work, offering young listeners a playful yet profound introduction to the richness of Indigenous cultures.
As the JUNO Awards approach, set for March 30 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver,Gouchie’s nomination serves as a testament to the power of authentic storytelling and the importance of amplifying Indigenous voices in Canadian music.
Gouchie will be at the JUNO Awards to see it all unfold.
This is the full list of nominees in the Children's Album of the Year category:
- Shun Beh Nats'ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs, Kym Gouchie
- Penny Penguin, Raffi & Good Lovelies
- Riley Rocket: Songs from Season One, Riley Rocket and Megablast
- Buon Appetito, Walk off the Earth, Romeo Eats
- Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro Rhyme Travellers, Young Maestro
Here's the full list of nominees
