Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

Nobody every said that dj earball was narrow in his musical tastes. Yesterday, Afrobeat mp3s. Today, using the 2005 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winners as a window to the Canadian music scene. I know a handful of these artists - others I'll have to find out more about. For ideas on Canadian world music groups to check out, check out Spin the Globe's "World Music from Canada" playlist. The winners:

Award: Artist CD Province
Best Female Artist: Tagaq CD: Sinaa Nunavut
Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots Album: Asani CD: Rattle & Drum Alberta
Best Male Artist: Diga CD: Earth Is Crying Northwest Territories
Best Songwriter: Carl Quinn (Alberta) song(s): “Ni Ototem” & “Otapihkes” (from “Ni Ototem”) writer(s): Carl Quinn
Best Rock Album: Forever CD: Something to Dream Of Nova Scotia
Best Song Single: Kimberly Dawn song: Spirit of Our People Manitoba
Best Producer/ Engineer: Tagaq (Nunavut) CD: Sinaa Producer: Juan Hernandez Engineer: Jose "Triki" Trincado
Best Group or Duo: Burnt CD: Hometown Manitoba
Best Instrumental Album: Jason Burnstick & the Rhythm CD: Burn British Columbia
Best Folk Album: Little Hawk CD: 1492–1975 Manitoba
Best Album Design: Oscar Poza & Montse CD: Sinaa Nunavut Best Inuit Cultural Album Beatrice Deer CD: Just Bea Quebec
Best Fiddle Album: Ryan D’aoust CD: Southside of the Strings Manitoba
Best Blues Album: The Wolfpack CD: Family Thang Ontario
Best Pow Wow Album: Contemporary Blackstone CD: Back in the Day Saskatchewan
Best Music Video Forever song: Something to Dream Of Nova Scotia
Best Rap or Hip Hop Album: Eekwol CD: Apprentice to the Mistery Saskatchewan
Best Country Album: Hank Horton CD: Honky Tonk Heartache Blues Manitoba
Best Pow Wow Album: Traditional Painted Horse CD: Blackfoot Songs Saskatchewan
Best Hand Drum Album: Northern Cree Singers CD: Sweethearts Shuffle Alberta
Best International Album: Joanne Shenandoah CD: Skywoman New York
Best Album of the Year: Little Hawk CD: 1492–1975 Manitoba
Best Aboriginal Television Program or Special: Lisa Meeches & Kyle Irving “First Nation Invasion” Manitoba
The Keeper of Traditions: Allan Beaver
Lifetime Contribution to Aboriginal Music: Willie Dunn
Music Industry Award: Brian Wright-McLeod
Galaxie Rising Stars Award: Ryan D'Aoust