B.C.'s Gillian Thompson up for best female artist

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The organizers of the seventh annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards announced its nominations for 23 categories on Sept 21. Among the nominees are some of the most talented Aboriginal artists and music industry professionals in all aspects of Aboriginal music.

Each year the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards celebrates the musical contributions of Aboriginal people by honoring the premier musicians, groups and industry members across Canada.

To qualify for a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, nominees must be Canadian Aboriginal-status, non-status, Metis or Inuit-by birth, adoption or community acceptance.

Topping the nominations, with five each, are Nunavut artist Tagaq for her album Sinaa (Best Female Artist, Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots Album, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Album Cover Design and Best Inuit Cultural Album) and Manitoba's Burnt Project 1, for Hometown (Best Rock Album, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Group or Duo, Best Album Cover Design and Best Album of the Year). Asani's Rattle & Drum, Little Hawk's 1492-1975 and Forever's Something to Dream Of all received three nominations.

The full list of Canadian Aboriginal Music Award nominees follows:

Best Female Artist:

Donna Kay, Full Circle, Alberta; Gillian Thompson, Intellifunk, British Columbia; Tagaq, Sinaa, Nunavut

Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots Album

Asani, Rattle & Drum, Alberta; Elizabeth Hill, Peacemakers Lullaby, Ontario; Tagaq, Sinaa, Nunavut

Best Male Artist

Diga, Earth Is Crying, Northwest Territories; Little Hawk, 1492-1975, Manitoba; Nadjiwan, Begin, Ontario

Best Songwriter

Asani, Rattle & Drum, "Bill C31 Blues" written by Sarah Pocklington and "Iskewesis" written by Sherryl Sewepagaham, Alberta; Carl Quinn, Ni Ototem, "Ni Ototem" and "Otapihkes," Alberta; Donna Kay, Full Circle, "Beat Goes On" and "Dream Dancer," Alberta

Best Rock Album

Burnt Project 1, Hometown, Manitoba; Carl Quinn, Ni Ototem, Alberta; Forever, Something to Dream Of, Nova Scotia

Best Song Single

Eagle & Hawk, "Indian Summer," Manitoba; Edward Gamblin, "Survivor's Voice," Manitoba; Kimberly Dawn, "Spirit of Our People," Manitoba

Best Producer/Engineer

Burnt Project 1, Hometown, producers: Danny Schur and Dave Boulanger engineer: Morgan Whitwell, Manitoba; Donny Parenteau, The Greatest Unknown, producer/engineer: Donny Parenteau, Saskatchewan; Tagaq, Sinaa, producer: Juan Hernandez engineer: Jose "Triki" Trincado, Nunavut

Best Group or Duo

Burnt Project 1, Hometown, Manitoba; Forever, Something to Dream Of, Nova Scotia; South Thunderbird, Tough Go, Manitoba

Best Instrumental Album

Jason Burnstick & the Rhythm, Burn, British Columbia; Jeari Czapla, Dolce, Alberta; Kelly Kiyoshk, Manido, Ontario

Best Folk Album

J.C. Campbell, Life up till Now, Manitoba; Diga, Earth Is Crying, Northwest Territories; Little Hawk, 1492-1975, Manitoba

Best Album Cover Design

Dave Boulanger & Angela Quadraccia, Hometown, Manitoba; Oscar Poza & Montse, Sinaa, Nunavut; Pamela Whitecalf, Whitefish Jrs-Round Dance, on the Trail I 94, Saskatchewan

Best Inuit Cultural Album

Beatrice Deer, Just Bea, Quebec; Tagaq, Sinaa, Nunavut

Best Fiddle Album

John Arcand, Thru the Years, Saskatchewan; Ryan D'aoust, Southside of the Strings, Manitoba

Best Blues Album

Jeari Czapla, Dolce, Alberta; South Thunderbird, Tough Go, Manitoba; The Wolfpack, Family Thang, Ontario

Best Pow Wow Album Contemporary

Blackstone, Back in the Day, Arizona; Grey Buffalo, Live at Long Plains, Manitoba; Perfect Storm, Kipehten, Saskatchewan

Best Music Video

Forever, "Something to Dream Of," Nova Scotia; Eric Voice, "Find a Way," Ontario; War Party, "The Resistance," Alberta

Best Rap or Hip Hop Album

Chickadee MC, Fly, Alberta; Eekwol, Apprentice to the Mistery, Saskatchewan; War Party, The Resistance, Alberta

Best Country Album

J.C. Campbell, Life up till Now, Manitoba; Hank Horton, Honky Tonk Heartache Blues Manitoba; Just the Boyz, Shotgun Rider, Saskatchewan

Best Powwow Album Traditional

High Noon, The Way It All Began, Alberta; Painted Horse, Blackfoot Songs, Saskatchewan; Walking Spirit, Walking Spirit, Saskatchewan

Best Hand Drum Album

Asani, Rattle & Drum, Alberta; Big River Cree, Together Again, Saskatchewan; Northern Cree Singers, Sweethearts Shuffle, Alberta

Best International Album

Jason Burnstick, Burn, British Columbia/Central & South America; Joanne Shenandoah, Skywoman, New York; Wabanag, Ulodi, Finland

Best Album of the Year

Burnt Project 1, Hometown, Manitoba; Little Hawk, 1492-1975, Manitoba; Elizabeth Hill, Peacemakers Lullaby, Ontario

Best Television Program or Special

Lisa Meeches & Kyle Irving, "First Nation Invasion," Manitoba; Lisa Meeches & Kyle Irving, "Ray St. Germaine," Manitoba; Lisa Meeches & Kyle Irving, "Red Man's Blues," Manitoba

The winners will be announced at the 2005 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards on Friday, November 25 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre's John Bassett Theatre (255 Front Street West).

Tickets for the awards are $35 in advance and $40 at the door and are available at TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.ca, 416-872-1111).

The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards are a part of Canadian Aboriginal Week, which launches in Toronto on Nov. 21 and culminates with the 12th annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival and Powwow Nov. 25 to 27.