Toronto, Canada – The 9th annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMAs) gala last evening was a star-studded night with Canada’s Native celebrities and performances by top Aboriginal musicians at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Twenty-eight CAMAs were handed out in honor of the musical artistry and achievements of outstanding Aboriginal musicians and industry members across Canada.
The evening’s top winners were Shane Yellowbird whose three-CAMAs win included Best Male Artist, Best Country Album and Best Album of the Year (Life Is Calling My Name). Double honors went to Donny Parenteau who was awarded the Best Song Single CAMA for "Father Time", and the Best Producer/Engineer award (Father Time). Northern Cree took home two Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, for two different CDs; Best Hand Drum Album (Long Winter Nights) and Best Pow Wow Album Contemporary (Stay Red).Highlights also included: Manitoba newcomer Tracy Bone was named this year’s Best Female Artist, and Vancouver trio M’Girl won the Best Group or Duo CAMA. Digging Roots received the CAMA for Best Song Writer. The Best Music Video CAMA went to Donna Kay for "Round Round Round." This year’s Galaxie Rising Stars Award of the CBC went to Josh Hill. A complete list of the 2007 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winners is below.
The 2007 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winners are:
Best Female Artist:
Tracy Bone
Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots Album:
Nikawiy Askiy – Sandy Scofield
Best Male Artist:
Shane Yellowbird
Best Group or Duo:
M’Girl
Best Rock Album:
The Dirty Looks – Derek Miller
Best Song Single:
Father Time – Donny Parenteau
Best Producer/Engineer:
Producers: Donny Parenteau & Steve Fox
Engineers: Matt Anderson & Glen Enns
For the album: Father Time (Donny Parenteau)
Best Fiddle Album:
Backroads Fiddling – Darren Lavallee
Best Folk Album:
Home and Native Land – Little Hawk
Best Instrumental Album:
Animal Totems – Arvel Bird
Best International Album:
In the Blood – Robert Mirabal
Best Aboriginal Music Radio Program:
Morning Round Dance – Wilson Okeymow
Best Album Design:
Designer CIMNetwork, Photography: Chronic Creative
for York Boats & Legends (Ryan D’Aoust)
Best Song Writer:
Digging Roots – "Brighter" and "Rebel" (from Seeds)
Best Television Program or Special:
The Velvet Devil – Andrea Menard
Best Traditional Flute Album:
Sacred Healing – David R. Maracle
Best Blues Album:
Let’s Take a Ride – Slidin’ Clyde Roulette Band
Best Pow Wow Album Contemporary:
Stay Red – Northern Cree
Best Music Video:
Round Round Round – Donna Kay
Best Rap or Hip Hop Album:
A New Beginning – Da Skelpa Squad
Best Country Album:
Life is Calling My Name – Shane Yellowbird
Best Pow Wow Album Traditional:
Painted Warrior – White Fish Jrs.
Best Hand Drum Album:
Long Winter Nights – Northern Cree & Friends
Best Album of the Year:
Life Is Calling My Name – Shane Yellowbird
Keeper of Traditions in Aboriginal Music:
Agnes "Axtsikayc" Edgar
Music Industry Award:
Melisa Pash
Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music:
Andrea Hansen
Galaxie Rising Stars Award of the CBC:
Josh Hill
The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMAs) are part of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival & Pow Wow taking place at Rogers Centre in Toronto November 30 – December 2, 2007. Information is online at www.canab.com.
The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards are sponsored by Scotiabank, Newcap Radio, Casino Rama, FACTOR, Radio Starmaker Fund, National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Galaxie Rising Stars of CBC, EMI, Sony/BMG, P.A. Plus, KPMG, Grenville Printing, Citytv, Toronto Star and AMMSA.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central