SASKATCHEWAN NOMINEES FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES’ CHOICE MUSIC AWARDS

by SaskMusic

July 5, 2013 in SaskMusic News

The Aboriginal Peoples’ Choice Music Awards are a celebration of Aboriginal music, arts, culture and heritage that showcase the talents, gifts and abilities of Aboriginal artists from all nations. The impact of the Festival reaches beyond and communicates the importance of Aboriginal culture. This year, industry professionals shortlisted the submissions down to the final nominees. Now, the public is asked to vote on the winners! Go to http://aboriginalpeopleschoice.com to register and vote for your favourite artists, with access to biographical information and samples from the nominees. 
 
SaskMusic is pleased to congratulate the Saskatchewan nominees for the 2013 Aboriginal Peoples’ Choice Music Awards:
 
Aboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year - Donny Parenteau and George Leach
Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year - George Leach (“Surrender”)
Best Country CD - Donny Parenteau (“Bring It On”)
Best Gospel CD - Marilyn Bouvier & David McIntyre (“Our Lady of Guadalupe”) and Yvonne St. Germaine (“City of Gold”)
Best Hand Drum CD - Nakoa Heavyrunner & Harvey Dreaver (“Love Letters”)
Best Peyote CD - Lance Crowe & Jonah Smokeyday (“Spiritual Happiness”), Whitehawk & Crowe (“Spiritual Walk”) and Whitehawk & Crowe (“Wikiwam Ahsin VI”)   
Best Pow Wow CD: Contemporary - Rock Hill (“Live at Hinckley”)
Best Pow Wow CD: Traditional – Poundmaker (“Devere”)   
Best Producer/Engineer - Donny Parenteau (“Bring It On”)
Best Rock CD - George Leach (“Surrender”)
Single of the Year - George Leach (“Carry Me”)
 
(Randall Paskemin, originally from Sweetgrass First Nations SK, is nominated for Best Hand Drum CD for “Emotions”, and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Curt Young, originally from Regina and now Calgary, was nominated for Best Flute CD for “Northern Equinox”).
 
The 2013 APCMAs will be presented on Sunday, August 18 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg MB at the eighth annual gala awards show and the invite-only Ohshkii Awards Night at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on August 17. The APCMAs take place during the annual Manito Ahbee Festival, which moves from November to its new summer dates August 16-21, 2013 in Winnipeg, celebrating music, arts and culture in the heart of Turtle Island. The awards gala will be broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
 
For more information, and to vote before the July 19 deadline, please visit www.aboriginalpeopleschoice.com.
 
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ABOUT THE NOMINEES
 
Donny Parenteau first raised a bow to the fiddle at the age of 14. Once he mastered the intricate technique of this versatile instrument, he applied his unwavering work ethic and love of music to other instruments. By 19 he was playing professionally and by 1991 Parenteau was playing fiddle for the legendary Neal McCoy. He calls Prince Albert home again and has become one of Canada’s most versatile and dynamic country music singer-songwriters.
 
George Leach grew up in Lillooet BC and now lives in Regina SK, and is one of Canada’s foremost guitarists. His sound can best be described as contemporary rock with a blues edge. His new album is called Surrender, which is good advice for any music fan. Within the album’s 11 tracks, George comes into his own as an artist, springing forth from his blues roots into a vaster sonic terrain encompassing classic rock, R&B and soul balladry.
 
Curt Young belongs to the Saulteaux Cree, Gordon First Nation. He first picked up a guitar at age ten. Although he usually plays guitar, he is also proficient playing drums, bass and piano. Curt started his creative adventure at an early age by writing out some of his day-to-day experiences. By 2005, some of his stories had been published by New Tribe, AYN and SAY magazines. The support and encouragement he received for sharing his personal experiences triggered the idea to combine his love of playing music with the release of writing.
 
Marilyn Bouvier is from the Canoe Lake First Nation in Canoe Lake SK, where she has been singing gospel music for approximately 13 years. In 2001 she joined the Guadalupe Parish, then choir, and has had the opportunity to record 3 CDs.
 
David McIntyre is from The English River First Nation in Patuanak SK and began singing at the age of six. One of his favorite songs was “Dusty Old Farmer”, By Murray McLaughlin. Joe Goulet from Cumberland House showed David 3 cords on the guitar and soon learned to play from the inspiration of his mom, who encouraged him. He sang for the local Country Band and began singing Guadalupe House in 2001.
 
Yvonne St.Germaine has travelled internationally for the past several years to communities, schools, conventions, jails, shelters, banquets, workshops and many churches singing, speaking and offering hope to others living with addictions and abuse. Yvonne has had many outstanding achievements and is a multiple past nominee.
 
Nakoa HeavyRunner, an Assiniboine/Blackfeet comes from Ft. Belknap, Montana. Harvey Dreaver grew up in Big River and now lives in Saskatoon. He has led his drum group, Whitefish Jrs for many years and they have travelled across Canada and the United States. They have hosted and won numerous singing contests, including the World Class Singing Champions at the All Nations Gathering in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1994.
 
Lance Crowe & Jonah Smokeyday are an Uncle and Nephew duo from Yellow Quill SK. Lance is Saulteaux and Cree, and is originally from Kawacatoose First Nation SK. Spiritual Happiness is his second solo album. Jonah Smokyday Nitisinihkas is also a Saulteaux from Yellow Quill First Nation where he lives with his wife and children.
 
Whitehawk & Crowe are the latest collaboration of Maynard Whitehawk and Lance Crowe. The two singers from Saskatchewan have made a name for themselves in the Native American Church community and are well respected in the sacred circle with friends and fans throughout North America.
 
Rock Hill is an exciting and powerful Ojibway drum group from Yellowquill First Nation, SK. The group was formed in the summer of 2003, but sung as Northern Eagle for a few years before that. The Rock Hill singers are comprised of members from all over Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, and have created a brotherhood, which is felt through their music.
 
Poundmaker is a Cree traditional style singing group from the Poundmaker Reserve in Saskatchewan that has travelled the United States and Canada. They recorded their latest album in honor of their late Brother, Devere Tsatoke, a fellow band-member who composed the songs before his passing in 2011.
 
 
 

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