NEWS RELEASE
2008 CANADIAN ABORIGINAL MUSIC AWARDS
************************* Country sensation sweeps all five categories in which she was nominated
Double winners include Eagle & Hawk, Tanya Tagaq, Mitch Daigneault and Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk
TORONTO - Country music sensation Crystal Shawanda led the field taking home five awards at last night’s 10th annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, a star-studded gala celebrating the best in Aboriginal music held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The evening's big winner, Shawanda won every award she was nominated for, including Best Female Artist, Best Single, Best Video, Best Country Album and Album of the Year.
Accolades were handed out in 29 CAMA categories recognizing outstanding Aboriginal musicians and industry members.
Four artists were double winners, including Eagle and Hawk, who snagged Best Rock Album and Best Group or Duo, Tanya Tagaq (Best Female Traditional and Bes Album Design), Mitch Daigneault (Best Male Artist and Best Songwriter) and Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, who captured the Best Fiddle and Best Instrumental Album awards.
The star-studded CAMA gala evening also featured performances by top Aboriginal musicians, including award winners 7th Generation, Christa Couture, Northern Cree, Stevie Salas and the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie, who was also recognized with the Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music honour.
A complete list of 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards winners will be available online.
2008 CAMA winners Best Female Artist Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day
Best Female Traditional Tanya Tagaq Auk-Blood
Best Male Artist Mitch Daigneault Driving All Night
Best Group or Duo Eagle & Hawk Sirensong
Best Rock Album Eagle & Hawk Sirensong
Best Song Single Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day You Can Let Go
Best Producer/Engineer Fara Palmer & Peter Kilgour
Best Fiddle Album Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk Omeigwessi Reel Metis: A Tribute to Walter Fleet
Best Folk Album Christa Couture The Wedding Singer and The Undertaker
Best Instrumental Album Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk Omeigwessi Reel Métis: A Tribute to Walter Fleet
Best International Album Stevie Salas Be What It Is
Best Aboriginal Music Radio Program Ray St. Germain The Métis Hour
Best Album Design Tanya Tagaq Auk-Blood
Best Songwriter Mitch Daigneault Driving All Night Letters
Best Television Program or Special Winston Wuttunee Kitohcikew "one who makes music"
Best Traditional Flute Dallas Arcand Picking Sweetgrass
Best Blues Album Texas Meltdown Feel The Heat
Best Pow Wow Album Contemporary Northern Cree Red Rock
Best Music Video Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day You Can Let Go
Best Rap or Hip Hop Album 7th Generation Self Titled
Best Country Album Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day
Best Pow Wow Album Traditional Whitefish Bay Singers Oshke Ye II
Best Hand Drum Album Northern Cree & Friends Dancin' Til Sunrise
Best Album of the Year Crystal Shawanda Dawn of a New Day
Best Original Score in Aboriginal/Indigenous Theatre, Dance or Film/Video Production Derek Miller Good Looking
Best Rap or Hip Hop Music Video Josh Hill Chief Big Boi Boppin
Keeper of Traditions in Aboriginal Music Award Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson
Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music Award Buffy Sainte-Marie
Music Industry Award Bruce Ruddell The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards are generously sponsored by Scotiabank, Newcap Radio, Casino Rama, FACTOR, Radio Starmaker Fund, EMI Music Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Sony/BMG (Canada), City TV, the Toronto Star and Windspeaker.
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