Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Announce 2021 Winners

The winners for this year's Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards (SSIMAs) have been announced and three artists from Manitoba have won. 

JUNO-nominated folk duo Burnstick won in the Social Voice category. Singer/songwriter Jerry Sereda won for Country Album of the Year for Don't Mind If I Do. Emerging recording artist and producer Mattmac won for Rap/Hip Hop/Electronica Album of the Year for his debut album, 20/20.

The winners were unveiled at a special livestream gala and featured performances from Burnstick, Desiree Dorion, and several other winners and nominates artists.

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. *

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

2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards Winners

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