Artists From Manitoba Land Nominations for the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards

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Burnstick
Brandi Vezina
Burnstick
C-Weed Band
Desiree Dorion
Jerry Sereda
Mattmac

The Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards (SSIMAs) have announced this year's nominees and artists from Manitoba have earned hounours in several categories. 

Folk duo Burnstick is a triple nominee, with nods for Recording Artist of the Year, Radio Song Single of the Year, and Social Voice. 

Music icon C-Weed Band and singer/songwriters Desiree Dorion and Jerry Sereda have each landed nominations for Country Album of the Year. 

Emerging recording artist and producer Mattmac is up for Rap/Hip Hop/Electronica Album of the Year. 

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Brandi Vezina has been nominated for Metis Artist/Group of the Year.

Several of this year's nominees from outside Manitoba have participated in recent Indigenous Music professional and export market development programs, including Twin Flames and Shauit (Indigenous North); Leela Gilday and Troy Kokol (ASKIY Export Residency); The North Sound and Electric Religious (Indigenous Music Residency), and Kaeley Jade (Market Builder).

The SSIMAs take place in conjunction with the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (SSIF). Established in Ottawa in 1996, the SSIF is a multi-disciplinary arts festival that brings together Indigenous artists, performers, educators, students, and community members to share knowledge and celebrate Canada’s diverse Indigenous cultures. Summer Solstice Festivals are produced by Indigenous Experiences on behalf of the National Indigenous Peoples Day Committee (NIPD). An Artist Advisory Committee made up of Canadian Indigenous music leaders was created to collaborate with and provide direction on The SSIMAs. *

"It’s time to celebrate Indigenous voices! These Awards provide an excellent platform for artists to be recognized for their hard work. Ottawa being the nation’s capital is a great portal to the world to share the surging wave of Indigenous expression," said Advisory Committee members Vince Fontaine and Elaine Bomberry in a media release announcing the nominees.

Winners will be announced at a special lceremony streamed live from the National Arts Centre on June 12. 

Find mout more about the SSIMAs at summersolsticefestivals.ca/music-awards/

2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Nominees

Radio Song Single of the Year
Battlefields, Twin Flames
Super Power, Joey Stylez
Manidoo Dewe'igan, Cody Coyote
Sah 'Laana, Carsen Gray
Some Kind of Hell, Burnstick

Country Album of the Year
Shine, Leah Belle
Don't Mind If I Do, Jerry Sereda
Break The Chain, Desiree Dorion
Big Dream, Esther Pennell
Last Ride, The C-weed Band

Pop/Alternative/Rock Album of the Year
Omen, Twin Flames, Omen
Quanah Style, Quanah Style
Theory of Ice, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Warrior Sun, Joey Stylez and Carsen Gray
Dreamweaver, Anachnid

Live Musical Performance of the Year
Shawnee, Warrior Heart
Shauit, Nutshimam
Sandrine, Masse-Savard, Yawenda and wendat chants
Joshua Arden Miller, Toronto Blues Society 35 Years of Blues
Joey Stylez and Carsen Gray, Victory Dance

Social Voice
Murray Porter
Leela Gilday
Jah'kota
G.R. Gritt
Burnstick

Roots Album of the Year
As The Stars Explode, The North Sound
Made Of, Nick Sherman
STAND UP, Murray Porter
North Star Calling, Leela Gilday
The Ridge, Julian Taylor

Rap/Hip Hop/Electronica Album of the Year
Sah 'Laana, The North Stars
Electric Turtle Dreams. Sean Beaver
Let the games begin, Rich n Beka
20/20, Mattmac
Dreamweaver, Anachnid

Metis Artist/Group of the Year
Sandra Sutter
G.R. Gritt
Electric Religious
Brandi Vezina
Blue Moon Marquee

Youth Leadership in Music
Warrior Women
Q052
Cody Coyote

International Indigenous Artist/Group Recording of the Year
Vildaluodda / Wildprint , VILDÁ
A Small Death, Samantha Crain
Cihkkojuvvon / Hidden, Gájanas
Dockside Saints, Cary Morin
Sky Songs, Alena Murang

Music in the Arts
Twin Flames, Grace Too
Okara, Okara LIVE
Cris Derksen, Indigenous Fashion Week

Recording Artist(s) of the Year
Twin Flames
Murray Porter
DJ Shub
Burnstick
Anachnid

Rising Star
Mary Bryton
Logan Staats
Kaeley Jade
Joshua Arden Miller
Angel Baribeau

Inuit Artist/Group of the Year
Silver Wolf Band
Silla and Rise
Hyper-T

Hand Drum/Fiddle/Instrumental Album of the Year
Four Sacred Colours, Tee Cloud
Manitou Mkwa Singers Volume 2
Singing is Healing, Joel Wood

Pow Wow Traditional/ Contemporary Album of the Year
Honouring Our Languages, Wabanaki Confederacy
Kepmite'lsultinej: Honour Our People, Stoney Bear Singers
Manitou Mkwa Singers Volume 2, Manitou Mkwa

Artistic Video
Like A Record (Troy Koko) Troy Kokol
Monsters (The North Stars) David Hodges
Mother Roots (Silla And Rise) Rise Ashen
Easier (Nadjiwan) Meriläinen Müsic Inc., Laura Meriläinen & Marc Meriläinen
Solidification( Leanne Betasamosake Simpson) Sammy Chien and the Chemerik Collective

* Some content from SSIMAs and SSIF media release and website

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