Manitoba acts in the running for four awards at the 2011 ISMA

 Rhonda Head, Desiree Dorion, and Vince Fontaine have earned nominations for the Indian Summer Music Awards (ISMA) this year. The winners will be announced on September 10 at an award ceremony during the Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Fontaine leads the group with two nominations for his debut solo release, entitled Songs for Turtle Island. The album is in the running for the Contemporary/Modern Instrumental and Rock categories. Fontaine is no stranger to the ISMA and has earned several trophies in Milwaukee as the leader of Eagle & Hawk.

Head's Kayas CD is nominated in the Spiritual category. The disc includes a Cree version of "Amazing Grace" and its release has generated a lot of interest in the mezzo spranno singer.

Dorion is in the running for the ISMA's Country trophy this year. This is the fourth nomination for Dorion in the last 12 months. She brought home the Best Country Album and Outstanding Country Album titles from the 2010 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards and 2011 North American Indigenous Image Awards, respectively.

Please visit the ISMA website for more information: www.indiansummer.org

MANITOBA NOMINEES – INDIAN SUMMER MUSIC AWARDS

CONTEMPORARY / MODERN INSTRUMENTAL
"Watersong" by Vince Fontaine | Songs for Turtle Island

COUNTRY
"Soul Back Jack" by Desiree Dorion | Soul Back Jack

ROCK
"Watersong" by Vince Fontaine | Songs for Turtle Island

SPIRITUAL
"Mamskatch Kisewisiwin" by Rhonda Head | Kayas