Andrea Menard Wins Big At Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

Friday night was a big one for Flin Flon, Man.'s Andrea Menard, who not only co-hosted the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, but also picked up prizes for best album and folk album for Simple Steps, and best single for "100 Years."

Toronto's Tamara Podemski scooped up the best songwriter and female artist awards. Edmonton's Jared Sowan collected awards for best male artist and best blues album for his Eclectically Yours debut. Alberta's Northern Cree Singers picked up prizes for best contemporary pow wow album and best hand drum album to round out the multiple winners.

The eighth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards took place at the John Basset Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre as part of the annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival. The three-day celebration featured live music, pow wows and craft shows. Music industry professionals from across Canada, including a panel of members from the Aboriginal music community, chose the winners.

Here are the winners of the 2006 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards:

Female Artist: Tamara Podemski
Male Artist: Jared Sowan
Group Or Duo: Eagle & Hawk
Blues Album: Jared Sowan — Eclectically Yours
Country Album: Mike Gouchie — Bad Boys & Angels
Hand Drum Album: Northern Cree & Friends — Slide & Sway
Fiddle Album: Cliff Maytwayashing — Skiffle Fiddle
Folk Album: Andrea Menard — Simple Steps
Rock Album: Highway 373 — No Limits
Rap Or Hip—Hop Album: Reddnation — Now Or Never
Pow Wow Album (Traditional): Red Bull — Enter The Circle
Pow Wow Album (Contemporary): Northern Cree — Nikamo—Sing!
Female Traditional Cultural Roots Album: M'Girl — Fusion Of Two Worlds
Album Of The Year: Andrea Menard — Simple Steps
Songwriter: Tamara Podemski
Song (Single): Andrea Menard — "100 Years"
Producer/Engineer: Peter Bacsalmasi for Donna Kay's The Journey
Album Design: David R. Maracle — Sacred Healing
Music Video: Susan Aglukark — "I Will Return"