Manitoba Acts Bring Home 13 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards

Manitoba artists won and unprecedented 13 awards at the 2011 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in Winnipeg, including four at the nationally-televised gala at the MTS Centre on November 4. Local acts also picked up eight awards at an industry event on November 3. 

Winnipeg’s Most was the big winner at the sixth annual APCMAs, sweeping all of their categories and doubling their 2010 APCMA results with a total of six awards. The rap outfit won for Best Group or Duo, Best Rap/Hip Hop CD, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Album Cover Design, and Best Music Video, and Single of the Year.

Newcomer Ali Fontaine was a double winner at her first APCMA, picking up Best New Artist and Best Country CD for her self-titled debut. She was also honoured with the award for Most Outstanding Manitoban at the Manito Ahbee kickoff event on November 2. Click here to download her song "Say It To Me".

Errol Ranville, a legendary figure in the Aboriginal music scene, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ranville’s C-Weed Band performed at the ceremony, along with Fontaine and APCMA nominee, Don Amero. Click here for his interview on Manitoba Scene.

Eagle & Hawk front man Vince Fontaine’s solo effort, Songs for Turtle Island, landed the award for Best Instrumental CD. The album has been nominated for eight awards so far this year, including the upcoming Canadian Folk Music Awards and Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and landed a Native American Music Award in October.

Other winners from Manitoba included Little Hawk for Best Folk/Acoustic CD, Bruthers of Different Muthers for Best Rock CD, and Mark Morrisseau for Best Fiddle CD.

The APCMAs are part of the Manito Ahbee Festival, which runs November 2-6 in Winnipeg. Now in its sixth year, Manito Ahbee features a variety of events including an Indigenous Marketplace and Trade Show, International Competition Pow Wow, and an education conference. Running concurrently, the third annual Aboriginal Music Week boasts nine concerts featuring over 30 performers, November 1-5 in various Winnipeg venues.

2011 ABORIGINAL PEOPLES CHOICE MUSIC AWARDS - MANITOBA WINNERS

BEST COUNTRY CD
Ali Fontaine – Ali Fontaine

BEST RAP / HIP HOP CD
Winnipeg’s Most – GoodFellaz 

BEST NEW ARTIST
Ali Fontaine

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Winnipeg’s Most – “Don’t Stop”

BEST DUO OR GROUP
Winnipeg’s Most

BEST PRODUCER/ENGINEER
Winnipeg’s Most

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Winnipeg’s Most – “All That I Know”

BEST ALBUM COVER DESIGN
Winnipeg’s Most – GoodFellaz

BEST FOLK / ACOUSTIC CD
Little Hawk – Vigilance

BEST FIDDLE CD
Mark Morrisseau – Favourites

BEST INSTRUMENTAL CD
Vince Fontaine – Songs for Turtle Island 

BEST ROCK CD
Bruthers of Different Muthers – Speakers of Tomorrow

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Errol Ranville