Round 1 Begins: The 2009 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards

The first round of online voting for this year’s Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (APCMA) began on July 10 and 47 Manitobans have 136 chances to earn nominations for the fourth edition of the Winnipeg-based show.

Sierra Noble is in the running for eight nominations, Billy Joe Green and Don Amero have chances in seven categories, and Eagle & Hawk have submissions for five awards.

The voting structure for the APCMA is different this year as industry professionals will adjudicate round 1 for the Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year, Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year, Best Aboriginal Music Radio Station/Program, Best Album Cover Design, Best International Artist, Best Music Video, Best New Artist, Best Producer/Engineer, and Best Television Program/Promotion of Aboriginal Music categories. Fans registered on aboriginalpeopleschoice.com will be able to vote in these categories in the second round.

Voting is easy- just register for an account at the aboriginalpeopleschoice.com website and submit your vote in each of the categories.

The Manitobans in the running this year are:

Aboriginal Entertainer of the Year
Billy Joe Green
Don Amero
Eagle & Hawk
Sierra Noble
Tracy Bone
X-Status

Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year
A New Honour
Billy Joe Green
Chris Barker Band
Howard Nepinak
Lost Priority
Rayne Delaronde
Sierra Noble
The Dusty Roads Band
Tracy Bone
X-Status

Best Aboriginal Music Radio Station Program
Metis Hour Times Two

Best Album Cover Design
Ashock
Billy Joe Green
Blaze
Brooklyn
Chris Barker Band
Darren Lavallee
Da Skelpa Squad
Don Amero
Eagle & Hawk
J.C. Campbell
Jon-C
Julie Marinelli
Leanne Goose
Lost Priority
Rayne Delaronde
Ray St. Germain
Sadie
Sierra Noble
The Dusty Roads Band
X-Status

Best Blues CD
Billy Joe Green
The Dusty Roads Band

Best Country CD
Chris Barker Band
Darrelyne Bickel
Howard Nepinak
Jack Olson
J.C. Campbell
Ray St. Germain
Sierra Noble

Best Fiddle CD
Gerry McIvor
Michael Audette – Showtime

Best Flute CD
Ashock

Best Folk or Acoustic CD
Don Amero
Rayne Delaronde

Best Gospel CD
Sadie

Best Group or Duo
A New Honour
Chris Barker Band
Da Skelpa Squad
Lost Priority
Team Rezofficial
The Dusty Roads Band
X-Status

Best Instrumental CD
Ashock
Ivan Spence
Michael Audette – Showtime

Best International Artist
Jaylene Johnson

Best Music Video
Christy Neveu
Fresh I.E
Sierra Noble
Wab Kinew

Best New Artist
A New Honour
Brooklyn
Chris Barker Band
Christy Neveu
Darrelyne Bickel
Jon-C
Julie Marinelli
Leanne Goose
Lost Priority
Michael Audette - Keeping The Tradition
Sadie
The Dusty Roads Band
Vibez

Best Pop CD
Dominique Reynolds
Don Amero
Sierra Noble
Tracy Bone

Best Producer or Engineer
Billy Joe Green
Darren Lavallee
Da Skelpa Squad
Don Amero
Eagle & Hawk
J.C. Campbell
Leanne Goose
Lost Priority
Rayne Delaronde
Ray St. Germain
X-Status

Best Rap or Hip Hop CD
Blaze
Brooklyn
Da Skelpa Squad
Jon-C
Sadie
Wab Kinew

Best Rock CD
Billy Joe Green
Chris Barker Band
Christy Neveu
Eagle & Hawk
Lost Priority
X-Status
Yoza

Best Television Program Promotion of Aboriginal Music
Aboriginal Day LIVE 09
Arbor LIVE

Single of the Year
Alyssa Nepinak
A New Honour
Billy Joe Green
Blaze
Brooklyn
Christy Neveu
C-Weed
Darrelyne Bickel
Da Skelpa Squad
Don Amero
Gathering of Flies
Howard Nepinak
Jack Olson
J.C. Campbell
Jerry Sereda
Leanne Goose
Mark Nabess
Rayne Delaronde
Ray St. Germain
Sadie
Sierra Noble
Team Rezofficial
The Dusty Roads Band
The Mosquitoz
Walking Wolf
Yoza