Toronto (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — 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 Best 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 CAMA gala 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.
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 Metis: A Tribute To Walter Fleet
Best International Album
Stevie Salas – Be What It Is
Best Aboriginal Music Radio Program
Ray St. Germain – The Metis 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
–by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
