Wapistan And Menard To Host Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

11/07/06 8:00pm

by Andrew Stewart (CHARTattack)

The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards will be co-hosted by Lawrence "Wapistan" Martin, the winner of the first aboriginal Juno Award in 1994, and folk artist Andrea Menard.

They'll be joined on the stage of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre's John Basset Theatre on Nov. 24 by performers Susan Aglukark, Eagle & Hawk, Mike Gouchie, Intellifunk, M'Girl, Art Napoleon, Walking Buffalo, Weaselhead and Randy Wood.

Special awards will be presented to Joseph Naytowhow, Germaine Langan and Donald Quan for their contributions to keeping aboriginal traditions alive and creating and promoting native music.

Here are the nominees for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards:

Best Female Artist:
Donna Kay — The Journey
Tamara Podemski — Tamara
Andrea Menard — Simple Steps

Best Female Traditional Cultural Roots Album:
M'Girl — Fusion Of Two Worlds
Angela Hovak Johnston — Nipiga (My Voice)
Donna Kay — The Journey

Best Male Artist:
Randy Wood -— Our Love Will Never Die
Jared Sowan — Eclectically Yours
Stephen Kakfwi — In the Walls Of His Mind

Best Songwriter:
Donna Kay — "Round Round Round" and "I Am" from The Journey
Susan Aglukark, Chad Irschick and Jack Grunsky — "Citizens Of The World" and "Circle Of The Old" from Blood Red Earth
Tamara Podemski and Karen Kosowski — "So Damn Beautiful" and "She Knows Better" from Tamara

Best Rock Album:
Highway 373 — No Limits
Eagle & Hawk — Life Is...
Myrage — Images

Best Song (Single):
Tamara Podemski — "Meegwetch" from Tamara
Andrea Menard — "100 Years" from Simple Steps
Susan Aglukark — "Citizens Of The World" from Blood Red Earth

Best Producer/Engineer:
Wayne Restoule — Refugees Of Romance by Weaselhead
Peter Bacsalmasi — The Journey by Donna Kay
Chris Burke-Gaffney and Vince Fontaine — Life Is... by Eagle & Hawk

Best Group Or Duo:
Weaselhead — Refugees Of Romance
Eagle & Hawk — Life Is...
Intellifunk -— I Never Promised You Tomorrow (Live)

Best Folk Album:
Percy Trapper — Songs From The Stones: Payuk
Art Napoleon — Miyoskamin
Andrea Menard — Simple Steps

Best Album Design:
Tania Oosting (designer) and Tesa MacIntosh (artist/photographer) for Stephen Kakfwi — In The Walls Of His Mind
David R. Maracle for David R. Maracle — Sacred Healing
James Kinistino for Project One Generation Compilation CD

Best Fiddle Album:
Harv Settee Jr. — Nanny's Dream
Corny Michel — Northern Fiddle
Cliff Maytwayashing — Skiffle Fiddle

Best Blues Album:
Intellifunk — I Never Promised You Tomorrow (Live)
Jared Sowan — Eclectically Yours
Gerry McIvor — Old Friend

Best Pow Wow Album (Contemporary):
Warscout — Dances
Northern Cree Singers — Nikamo-Sing!
Walking Buffalo — Walking Buffalo: Drum Speaker

Best Music Video:
Avi Federgreen, Tamara and Jennifer Podemski, Big Soul Productions & BravoFACT! — Tamara Podemski and Ron Allen's "Meegwetch"
Kelly Parker and A Turtle Island Music Prodn. — Ray Villburn and Red Blaze's "Man That Sits Alone"
Margaret Malandruccolo and Blink Pictures Inc. — Susan Agulkark's "I Will Return"

Best Rap Or Hip-Hop Album:
Rezofficial — Lakes Aqui (Lakes Boss) — The Preview
Wabs Whitebird — Success Is The Best Revenge
Reddnation — Now Or Never

Best Country Album:
Edward Gamblin — Cree Road
W.T. Goodspirit — Give Me A Sign
Mike Gouchie — Bad Boys & Angels

Best Pow Wow Album (Traditional):
Grey Buffalo — Straight From The Beginning
Rock Hill — Rock Hill
Red Bull — Enter The Circle

Best Hand Drum:
Big River Cree — Doing What We Love
Young Scouts — Round Dance Rhythm
Northern Cree Singers & Friends — Slide And Sway

Best Album Of The Year:
Eagle & Hawk — Life Is...
Susan Aglukark — Blood Red Earth
Andrea Menard — Simple Steps