Manitobans Up for 17 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

Manitoba will be well-represented at the 2004 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in November. Seventeen Manitoba artists in 11 categories are up for awards in a variety of categories, making this the strongest Manitoba showing at the national gala since its inception. In 2003, Manitoba was nominated for 11 awards and brought home five.

Juno-winning rock act Eagle & Hawk, which recently took home an award for Best Rock Album at the Indian Summer Music Festival, is contending for four awards, including Best Songwriter, Best Rock Album, Best Song Single, and Best Group. Other multiple nominees include Heritage for Best Song Single and Best Group, and Billy Joe Green for Best Blues Album and Best Album Design. Sunshine recording artist Rayne Delaronde has been nominated for Best Folk Album while her producer Clint Dutiaume and engineer Shane Ward are nominated for Best Producer/Engineer. Manitoba artists, including Dutiaume, swept the nominations for Best Fiddle Album. A 2003 nominee, Edward Gamblin is up for Best Country Album.

The sixth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, which honour the best musical artists of the Canadian Aboriginal communities, will take place November 26 in downtown Toronto. The mission of the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards is to acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of Aboriginal music; to continue to develop and promote the diversity of all Aboriginal music and celebrate the excellence of Aboriginal music and to recognize the unique vision of Aboriginal musicians and encourage this rich cultural voice. The awards are part of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival in Toronto, running November 26-28 at the SkyDome. The festival also includes a film fest, economic conference, pow wow, workshops, and traditional teachings

For more information and a complete list of nominees for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, please visit www.cabab.com.

2004 Manitoba Nominees: Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

Best Songwriter
� Eagle & Hawk

Best Rock Album
� Eagle & Hawk

Best Song Single
� Eagle & Hawk
� Heritage

Best Producer/ Engineer
� Danny Schur - Healing Jane
� Clint Dutiaume, Producer & Shane Ward, Engineer - Rayne Album

Best Group or Duo
� Eagle & Hawk
� Heritage

Best Instrumental Album
� Longhouse Vol. 1
� Spirit of the Nations

Best Folk Album
� Rayne Delaronde

Best Album Design
� Billy Joe Green

Best Fiddle Album
� Clint Dutiaume
� Jig Band
� Gary Lepine

Best Blues Album
� Billy Joe Green

Best Country Album
� Edward Gamblin