Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Winnipeg, Manitoba (November 2, 2011) -- The 6th annual Manito Ahbee Festival officially kicked off celebrations at a press conference today.
“We’re happy to be kicking off our sixth festival today,” says Lisa Meeches, Chair of the Manito Ahbee Board of Governors. “Our goal each year is to bring people together, so we hope you will come out and enjoy the celebration of Aboriginal music, art and culture.”
MOST OUTSTANDING MANITOBAN AWARD
The press conference included presentation of the award for Most Outstanding Manitoban, an award given annually to an emerging Aboriginal artist. This year’s recipient is Ali Fontaine, a young recording artist from Sagkeeng First Nation.
Ali Fontaine is a self-taught singer/songwriter who has been writing songs and performing since the age of eight, when she entered and won first place in her first talent competition. Since then, Ali has been performing at various events, gatherings, conferences and concerts. Waiting until she was old enough to enter the ‘NCI Jam’ (Canada’s national aboriginal radio station) Ali was finally able to enter in 2010, when she was 16. She won with her own song Hey – a feat not often done by or in talent competitions. Ali competed for, and won a spot on Manitoba Star Attractions Talent Showcase 2010 compilation CD, releasing her first single I miss you. Hey and I Miss You are also available on her debut self-titled album that was released in June 2011.
MANITO ABHEE EVENTS
RBC Ohshkii Awards Night
Thursday November 3
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Fort Garry Place, Grand Ballroom
Invitation-only event
12 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards will be handed out:
Best Duo or Group
Best Producer/Engineer
Best Music Video
Best Aboriginal Radio Station/Program
Best Album Cover Design
Best Folk/Acoustic CD
Best Flute CD
Best Fiddle CD
Best Peyote CD
Best Instrumental CD
Best Hand Drum CD
Best Rock CD
Performances by:
Donny Parenteau
Cris Derksen
Will Belcourt
Ali Fontaine
Education Day
Friday November 4
11:00am – 4:00pm
Franco Manitoban Cultural Centre
340 Provencher Blvd.
Red Carpet Presented by Manitoba Lotteries
Friday November 4
6:00pm – 7:15pm
MTS Centre, Portage & Donald Entrance
Free public event
Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards
Friday November 4
7:00pm – 10:00pm
MTS Centre
Tickets $37.45 at Ticketmaster
The APCMAs are broadcast live on APTN!
9 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards will be handed out:
Best Country CD
Best Rap/Hip Hop CD
Best Pow Wow CD Contemporary
Best Pow Wow CD Traditional
Best New Artist
Single of the Year
Songwriter of the Year
Male Entertainer of the Year
Female Entertainer of the Year
Plus a special presentation will be made to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Errol Ranville.
Performances by:
Derek Miller
Ghost Keeper
Elisapie Isaac
Kelly Daniels
Don Amero
Samian with Florent Vollant
Pacific Curls
C-Weed Band with Ali Fontaine
The Indigenous Marketplace & Trade Show will be open on Friday evening.
International Competition Pow Wow Presented by Manitoba Lotteries
Saturday November 5
12:00pm – 11:00pm
Sunday November 6
12:00pm – 8:00pm
MTS Centre
Tickets $15.75 each day, at Ticketmaster
Saturday’s events include the crowning of the 2011 Miss Manito Ahbee Travelling Princess, in honour of Cherisse Houle.
Sunday’s events include the presentation of the new Outstanding Volunteer Award, in honour of Shaawanong Pineshii – ikwe, South Thunderbird Woman, Penny Miranda Houle.
Indigenous Marketplace & Trade Show
Saturday November 5
10:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday November 6
10:00am – 8:00pm
MTS Centre
Admission included with purchase of Pow Wow ticket (Saturday or Sunday)
ABOUT MANITO AHBEE
The Manito Ahbee Festival celebrates and showcases Aboriginal music, art and culture, with the 6th annual festival taking place in Winnipeg from November 2nd to 6th. Manito Ahbee – which means ‘where the Creator sits’ – honours a sacred site in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park where Aboriginal people have gathered for hundreds of years to share teachings and wisdom. There are several petroforms at this site including one shaped like a turtle that represents Turtle Island, another name for North America. Manito Ahbee was recognized in 2007 with Travel Manitoba’s Tourism Award in the category of Aboriginal Tourism. The Board of Governors, staff and organizers of Manito Ahbee express deep gratitude for all participants, supporters and communities who have come together to make the festival what it is today.
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