The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival will hold their annual awards show on June 12. It will recognize Indigenous artists from all genres of music and will be live streamed from the National Arts Council in Ottawa, ON. To learn more about the festival, click here.
Trina Mather Simard says, “we felt it was a natural connections to establish these international awards to spark this celebration of Indigenous music in recognition of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.” She is the artistic producer and executive director for the Summer Solstice Festival in Ottawa.
Some of the 18 award categories hold special significance including Youth Leadership In Music and Social Voice. They recognize individuals and groups that have impacted artistic heritage and culture within the Indigenous community, mentorship of youth and/or raised awareness of social and environmental issues. See the full list of categories and nominees below. Winners will be announced in the ceremony on June 12.
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival Nominees
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
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
Recording Artist(s) of the Year
Twin Flames
Murray Porter
DJ Shub
Burnstick
Anachnid
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
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
Rising Star
Mary Bryton
Logan Staats
Kaeley Jade
Joshua Arden Miller
Angel Baribeau
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
Metis Artist/Group of the Year
Sandra Sutter
G.R. Gritt
Electric Religious
Brandi Vezina
Blue Moon Marquee
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
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
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
Social Voice
Murray Porter
Leela Gilday
Jah’kota
G.R. Gritt
Burnstick
Music in the Arts
Twin Flames, Grace Too
Okara, Okara LIVE
Cris Derksen, Indigenous Fashion Week
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
