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TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - The seventh annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards today announced its nominations for 23 categories. 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 honouring 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.

Here is the list of Canadian Aboriginal Music Award nominees:

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 Pow Wow 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 November 21 and culminates with the 12th annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival and Pow Wow November 25-27.

Media Contact: Heather Kelly Communications - Amber Authier, amber@heatherk.ca, (416) 760-7323; Heather Kelly, heather@heatherk.ca, (416) 364-5701; www.heatherk.ca