{{Infobox musical artist | name = Digging Roots | origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | genre = Folk rock, First Nations music | years_active = 2004–present | label = Ishkōdé Records, Universal | website = {{URL|diggingrootsmusic.com}} | current_members = Raven Kanatakta<br />ShoShona Kish }} '''Digging Roots''' is a Canadian musical group consisting of husband and wife duo Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish, whose musical style blends folk-rock, pop, blues, and hip hop.<ref>[http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/282634 {Music: Digging Roots adding new twists on ancient traditions"]. Lenny Stoute . Dec 18, 2009</ref><ref name=cbcmusic>[http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2014/8/A-Tribe-Called-Red-Wab-Kinew-Tanya-Tagaq-on-the-indigenous-music-renaissance "A Tribe Called Red, Wab Kinew, Tanya Tagaq on the indigenous music renaissance"]. CBC Music, August 18, 2014.</ref> They won the Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year in 2010 for their album ''We Are...''.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/indigenous-music-extends-well-beyond-pop-and-rock-1.1059223 "Indigenous music extends well beyond pop and rock"]. CBC News, March 25, 2011.</ref>
Kanatakta is originally from Winneway, Quebec, while Kish is from the Batchewana First Nation in Northern Ontario.<ref>[http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2010/04/15/barries-digging-roots-going-for-a-juno-2 "Barrie's Digging Roots going for a Juno"]. ''Barrie Examiner'', April 15, 2010.</ref>
==History== Formed in 2004, the duo released their first album ''Seeds'' in 2006. The album was a nominee for the Aboriginal Album of the Year Juno at the Juno Awards of 2007.<ref>"The 2007 Juno nominations". canada.com, February 7, 2007.</ref> They followed with ''We Are...'' in 2009, which featured collaborations with Tanya Tagaq, DJ Bear Witness of A Tribe Called Red and Kinnie Starr, who also produced the album.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/opinion/2009/10/13/digging_roots_we_are.html "Digging Roots: We Are"]. ''Toronto Star'', October 13, 2009.</ref> Their third album ''For the Light'' was released in 2014.<ref name=cbcmusic />
They won the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Group in 2007.<ref>[http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2010/04/20/barrie-band-bags-best-aboriginal-album-juno "Barrie band bags best Aboriginal album Juno"]. ''Barrie Examiner'', April 20, 2010.</ref>
In 2016, the band performed at the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival<ref>[http://www.bcmusicianmag.com/digging-with-shoshona-kish/ "Digging with ShoShona Kish"]. ''BC Musician Magazine'' • September 19, 2016</ref> and at the Ottawa Jazz Festival.<ref>[https://ottawasun.com/2016/06/28/buffy-sainte-marie-cool-despite-glitches/wcm/50b2afec-aa6b-426a-ac2a-e3e12734089e "Buffy Sainte-Marie cool despite glitches"]. ''Ottawa Sun'', June 28, 2016</ref> In 2017, they performed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.<ref>[https://apt613.ca/review-anishinabekwe-showcases-impressive-talent/ "Concert review: Anishinabekwe showcases impressive talent"]. ''APT 613'', By Jared Davidson on July 25, 2017</ref>
In 2018, Shoshona was awarded the Womex 18 Professional Excellence Award while Raven was awarded the Cobalt Award at the 2016 Maple Blues Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graaf |first=Maxine de |title=Review - Digging Roots {{!}} Canadian Beats Media |url=https://canadianbeats.ca/2016/07/16/review-digging-roots-2/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>
After organizing three International Indigenous Music Summits together, Kish partnered with singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume in 2021 to form Ishkōdé Records.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-06-30 |title=Ishkode Records partners with Universal Music Canada to 'amplify Indigenous voices' |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-ishkode-records-partners-with-universal-music-canada-to-amplify/ |access-date=2022-06-23}}</ref> The label releases music by Rheaume, Digging Roots, and singer-songwriters Aysanabee and Morgan Toney.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2022 |title=Canadian Labels: Ishkōdé Records Ignites the Spirit of the Eighth Fire |url=https://amplify.nmc.ca/canadian-labels-ishkode-records-ignites-the-spirit-of-the-eighth-fire/ |website=National Music Centre |author=David McPherson |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums === * ''Seeds'' (2006) * ''We Are'' (2009) * ''For the Light'' (2014) * ''Zhawenim'' (2022) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Digging Roots Albums and Discography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/digging-roots-mn0000912055/discography/all |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>
=== Singles ===
* ''Ak47'' (2016) * ''The Healer'' (2021) * ''Cut My Hair'' (2021) * ''SKODEN'' (2022)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official|http://www.diggingrootsmusic.com}}
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Category:Canadian folk rock groups Category:Canadian blues musical groups Category:First Nations musical groups Category:Musical groups from Toronto Category:Musical groups established in 2004 Category:2004 establishments in Ontario Category:Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year winners Category:Canadian Folk Music Award winners Category:Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year winners