Last Friday, the Indigenous Music Awards (IMAs) were presented to artists at Winnipeg’s Club Regent Event Centre in a ceremony that coincided with the Manito Ahbee Festival, a gathering that celebrates Indigenous culture and heritage to unify, educate and inspire.
“It’s really an amazing time to see the community support our artists and to help raise up the Indigenous music industry in this country through the backing of the Indigenous Music Awards,” IMA manager Jacquie Black said in a statement.
Awards were handed out in 21 categories, celebrating music that was created by First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists.
In addition to the awards, songwriter Ernest Monias was honoured with the IMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Erica Daniels was honoured with the Indigenous Film Award, while Anachnid was presented with the 2019 TD Indigenous Songwriter Award.
It was also revealed that the 2020 Indigenous Music Awards will take place in Edmonton, Alberta. Check out the full list of winners below:
Best Radio Single went to Logan Staats with his piece “The Lucky Ones” with three other nominations in the category including Snotty Nose Rez Kids with “Savages,” Supaman with “Somewhere” featuring Northern Cree, and Celeigh Cardinal with “There Ain’t No Way.”
Staats later said that this particular category was probably “the hardest” to be in.
“This category included Snotty nose Rez Kids and I was just surprised that I was able to [be given the award],” he said. “It was one of those years where I was really nervous just because of the level of competition. Indigenous music is just getting so crazy [big] now, you know? Everyone is making such a big noise.”
He added that he is proud of being able to bring home the award as a representing artist from Six Nations.
As for the other categories: Best Contemporary Pow Wow Album went to Young Spirit with “Red Dress Special,” which stood up against Cree Confederation with “Medicine Horse”, Northern Cree with “Nitisanak-Brothers and Sister”, and Northern Voice with “Kokawino aski: Guardians of the Land.”
- Best Blues Album went to Cory Morin with “When I Rise.”
- Best Country Album went to Don Amero with “Evolution.”
- Best Electronic Album went to DJ Krayzee Kree with “Future Generations.”
- Best Folk Album went to Beatrice Deer with “My All to You.”
- Best Gospel Album went to Yvonne St. Germaine with “Country Christmas.”
- Best Hand Drum Album went to Laura Grizzlypaws with “Come Home.”
- Best Instrumental Album went to Jamie Medicine Crane with “Honouring Life.”
- Best International Indigenous Release went to Solju with “Ođđa Áigodat (New Times).”
- Best Inuit, Indigenous Language, or Francophone Album went to Angela Amarualik with “Angela Amarualik.”
- Best Music Video went to Supaman with “Miracle.”
- Best New Artist went to Janel Munoa with “Howls From Deep in the Woods.”
- Best Pop Album went to Mimi O’Bonsawin with “Connected.”
- Best Traditional Pow Wow Album went to Chippewa Travellers with “Waseyasige: Shining Brightly” and Wabanaki Confederacy with “Journey of the Drum.”
- Best Producer/Engineer went to Vince Fontaine and Chris Burke-Gaffney and Sandra Sutter with “Cluster Stars.”
- Best Radio Station Program – Promoting Indigenous Music went to CBC Radio with “Unreserved.”
- Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album went to Buggin Malone with “Humanity Volume I.”
- And Best Rock Album went to Samantha Crain with “You Had Me at Goodbye.”
