Manitobans Win Two American Aboriginal Music Awards

Posted on

Two local bands are bringing home an important American Aboriginal music award this month. Juno-winning act Eagle & Hawk won the Indian Summer Music Award (ISMA) for Alternative Rock for its album The Red. The band won the same category in 2004 for its acclaimed album Mother Earth. Sunshine Records’ Spirit of the Nations was honoured for its self-titled album in the Contemporary Instrumental category. The ISMA winners were announced at an awards ceremony during the Indian Summer Festival (ISF) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 10, 2005. In a record showing, 12 Manitoba artists were nominated for the 2005 ISMA.

The ISF is a three-day event – considered the largest Aboriginal festival in North America – which hosts both the Indian Summer Festival Image Awards and the ISMA.

Manitoba’s profile was unparalleled at the ISMA in Milwaukee this year. With 22 recording artists and industry professionals from Manitoba in attendance, a clear message was sent to the rest of the continent: when it comes to music, Manitoba means business.

The Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association’s Aboriginal Music Program accessed funding from Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism to showcase this year’s Manitoba nominees in Milwaukee. The Aboriginal Music Program showcase included the Billy Joe Green Band, teenage fiddling sensation Sierra Noble, singer/songwriter Rayne Delaronde, Burnt-Project 1’s lead singer Dave Boulanger, and two members of Eagle & Hawk. Musicians Donn Ranville, Kevin Jospeh, and Jay Ross backed up showcasing solo artists. The rest of the delegation from Manitoba included Little Hawk, the Red Shadow Singers pow wow drum group, Eagle & Hawk, Aaron Peters, and two representatives from Sunshine Records.

“MARIA is very proud of Eagle & Hawk, Spirit of the Nations and all of this year’s Manitoba nominees,” says Errol Ranville, MARIA’s Aboriginal Music Program Director. “I think we gave Milwaukee a lot more than it expected. Our artists put on fabulous shows and really branded Manitoba as the best source for Aboriginal music and entertainment in general.”

MARIA’s Aboriginal Music Program is designed to help Aboriginal people develop sustainable careers in Manitoba’s music industry. Four of this year’s ISMA nominees are featured on the Aboriginal Music Program’s 2005 Manitoba Aboriginal Artists Vol. 2 compilation CD. The Aboriginal Music Program provides guidance on deadlines and contact info as well as submission procedures for international events like ISMA.

Read more news