Eekwol makes the cut for Dig Your Roots CD

Fifteen independent Aboriginal acts from across the country will be featured on the latest Dig Your Roots CD compilation. Representing Saskatchewan on the disc will be Muskoday First Nation's own Eekwol, a.k.a. Lindsay Knight.

The young singer/songwriter's debut album Apprentice to the Mystery has brought her much attention, not to mention the award for best hip hop or rap album at the 2005 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

The artists selected to represent the Atlantic region on the compilation disc are Rez Villain from Bedford, N.S., Shirley Montague from Norris Point, Nfld. and Richard M. Gloade from Fredericton, N.B.

Artists from the Quebec/North region include Tagaq from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Jef Tremblay et les Elements from Quebec City and Sinuupa from Kuujjuag, Que.

Ontario will be represented by Digging Roots from Barrie, the Pappy Johns Band from Ohsweken and Toronto's Graeme Jonez.

Joining Eekwol in representing the Prairie/North region are Leela Gilday from Yellowknife and Winnipeg's X-STATUS. Rounding out the lineup are three artists from the Pacific/North region-Sandy Scofield from Vancouver, Ed Peekeekoot from Crofton, B.C. and Elaine Jakesta from Watson Lake, Yukon.

Dig Your Roots -Aboriginal is the fifth CD compilation in the series, a project of the National Campus and Community Radio Association. The goal of the project is to promote Canadian artists who specialize in musical genres that are under-represented in the commercial radio sector.
The CD was released on May 29. A series of concerts featuring the selected artists will take place in five locations across the country form June 17 to 29.

Each of the shows will be broadcast live nationally on participating campus and community radio stations. To find out where and when the concerts will take place, go to www.DigYourRoots.ca.