The night of Nov. 2 began under spotlights that highlighted drummers from four directions, with Anishinaabe, Asian, African and Celtic drums that echoed the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
It was all for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, which gives Aboriginal music stars the chance to shine on the national stage, with all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood extravaganza.
Read the complete list of winners here.
This year's awards proved a big night for Thunder Bay's Shy-Anne, who hauled in three more awards — in addition to the three she'd collected the previous night — to be the APCMA's big winner.
"I have to say a big shout-out to Keeseekoowenin because that's where my father's side of the family is from and then Brokenhead, where my mom's side of the family is from," said Shy-Anne. "And then out to my family in Pine Ridge, South Dakota."
Needless to say, Shy-Anne was blown away with just the thought of winning six awards. But for her, winning so many awards was a sign that she has been able to touch so many people with her songwriting.
Winnipeg-based musician Tracy Bone stepped up to take Aboriginal songwriter of the year, in a hotly contested category that featured some past winners. For Bone, winning the songwriting category was recognition of her ability to communicate and reach out beyond herself.
However, the biggest smile of the night belonged to singer-songwriter Don Amero, who took home the award for Aboriginal male entertainer of the year.
The night before, Amero had won his first APCMA as part of the collaborative project Indian City, but Nov. 2 saw him win his very first award for his own work — after 22 collective nominations.
"It's an experience and a half to get up and say the thank yous that I've been holding back for so long," he said, laughing. "I became speechless."
Amero said winning with Indian City is like winning half an award with someone else, then added that he didn't want to take anything away from that win because, if he was going to win with anyone else, it would've been with Indian City.
Adding to the Hollywood touch, Lightning Cloud won for best rap/hip–hop CD. The duo consists of Crystle Lightning and MC Red Cloud.
"There's just so much talent here that it's amazing to be a part of it," Lightning said. "We were going to celebrate whether we won or not," Cloud added " We're in a city with our brothers and sisters. Really, what more could you ask for?"
Louie Goose, of Louie Goose and the Mackenzie Delta Band, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.
"When we started out, it sure was a lot different," joked Goose. "We didn't have guitar tuners and we didn't have pianos to tune to so you did it by ear. The young people today are so talented and coming out with great lyrics. There was no red carpet. There wasn't even a caribou carpet."
CBC Music's own Kim Wheeler worked the red carpet introductions, as the stars got a chance to stroll down that crimson walk of fame into the MTS Centre, packed with adoring fans.
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