Ontario musicians score on awards night

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Ontario artists had their share of success at this year's Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA).

Of the 17 awards that were up for grabs at the Nov. 28 event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, seven trophies were taken home by musicians with Ontario connections.

Leading the way was Tru Rez Crew, a 10-person, Six Nations-based outfit that captured a pair of awards.

Tru Rez Crew took top honours for the best rap or hip hop album category for work on their second album titled Ain't No Turnin' Back. The rappers, who formed their group in 1999, also won the best song single division for their efforts on I'm A Lucky One.

Jasmine Netsena, the lone female in Tru Rez Crew, said her group was shocked to win the best song award. That's because it's a rarity to have a rap song voted the best in a multi-genre music awards competition.

"It's awesome," Netsensa said. "I've never really heard of that happening before."

Another Six Nations band, The Wolfpack, also won an award.

The Wolfpack, which consists of five brothers-Darren, James, Chad, Jason and Troy Martin-were deemed to have the best blues album. Lead vocalist Jason Martin said the band's debut album, dubbed Every lil Thing, has far exceeded expectations, especially considering it was an independent project.

"We did everything on our own in our own basement," Jason Martin said, adding the brothers produced and even marketed their own CD. "To win an award for it is just breathtaking."

The Wolfpack produced 1,500 copies of its first CD, at a cost of about $2,000. Every lil Thing came out in May and the band had only about 200 copies remaining as of late November.

Jason Martin said band members are eager to re-record their initial project. "We're trying to get a record deal," he said. "And we want to redo the album and add some new things to it."

Yet another Ontario-based band that won its category was Remedy, a Moose Factory-based band that was chosen as the best group or duo. Remedy consists of Vic Linklater (vocals/guitar), Stan Louttit (vocals/guitar), Ray Maybee Jr. (guitar), Ron Corston (bass) and George Witham (drums).

The band, which previously went by the name of Sled, had also been nominated for the best group award in 1999, the first year the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards were held.

Meanwhile, one individual who managed to become a repeat winner was David R. Maracle, a resident from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on the Bay of Quinte. Maracle was this year's recipient of the best instrumental album award for his work called Natural Resources.

Two years earlier Maracle had been presented with a CAMA trophy in the best traditional album contemporary category.

Maracle was once again thrilled to be involved with the evening that honoured Native musicians. "It feels great to have a place to come to," said Maracle, who is also a reknowned stone sculptor who has won various awards since he took up this type of art in 1988. "There's a lot of hidden (musical) talent on the First Nations territories. It's nice they have something like this they can come to and get some recognition."

As for one of the top awards at this year's event, it was presented to Toronto resident Lucie Idlout, who was chosen as the best female artist. Idlout, a native of Nunavut who has been living in Toronto for the past year, was honoured for her debut CD called E5-770, My Mother's Name.

"I didn't believe in a million years that it would be me winning this award," said Idlout, adding she felt one of the other two nominees-Saskatoon's Andrea Menard or Winnipeg's Kimberly Dawn-would be taking home the trophy.

Though ecstatic about her award, Idlout added her thoughts have already turned to her future. "This is one of the steps in my career and I'm going to keep moving forward," she said. "I'm already focusing on my next album now."

Idlout is hoping her second CD is released within the next year.

Another group that won an award was the Whitefish Bay Singers. Based in Whtefish Bay, this 15-member group won the best traditional album historical category. The group's latest album is called Anishinaabe Meenigoziwin.

The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards were held in conjunction with the Canadian Aboriginal Festival and Powwow, held at Toronto's SkyDome from Nov. 28 to 30.