The first Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards are set to go next month in Prince Albert.
The awards show is being put on by the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Association. The association’s president Donny Parenteau told MBC Radio News, the upcoming event in Prince Albert will be recognizing a range of artists and accomplishments.
“Rock, rap, heavy metal category, we have song of the year category, there’s so many,” he said.
There will also be an award which allow fans to vote for their favorite artist. Parenteau said they will also be handing out the Willard Ahenakew Award, which he explained is a legends and legacy award.
“To us Willard Ahenakew is a, he’s a living legacy, especially for the Indigenous people around here,” he said.
A number of artists, including Parenteau himself will be performing as part of the awards show. This includes Teagan Littlechief, Roland Corrigal and Yvonne St. Germaine. Parenteau said since announcing the awards show he has heard positive feedback from Indigenous music artists in the province.
“Some of them are saying, ‘it’s about time somebody took the reins and did this,’ and they’re very thankful and very grateful that there’s an organization like this out there that’s actually making it happen,” he said.
The association president as well expressed his thanks for groups and organizations who have stepped up and agreed to sponsor the event. Parenteau said setting up the awards show has not been without challenges, but credits the organization’s board for working to overcome the issues.
“There’s a challenge daily, and it’s a learning experience and you just have to overcome the challenges, sometimes you’ve got (to) bob and weave a little bit, to dance around something or a situation, but you learn how to do that,” he said.
People who are interested in attending the show can get tickets from the E.A Rawlinson Centre. Parenteau said they are encouraging people to come out and added the awards show is a true first.
“This is the first one ever in the history of Saskatchewan,” he said,
(Top Photo: Four members of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Association Board of Directors, Sheryl Kimbley, left, Donny Parenteau, Paul Lomheim and Roland Corrigal. Photo Courtesy of Michael Joel-Hansen.)