N.W.T.’s Gilday wins big at aboriginal music awards

Leela Gilday can add another trophy to her mantle. The Yellowknife singer-songwriter just won the Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year award.

The awards were handed out at the 6th annual Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in Winnipeg this weekend.

Gilday won for Best Folk/Acoustic CD at the APCMA's last year for her Calling All Warriors album. She also won a Juno in 2007 and has two Western Canadian Music Awards under her belt.

Before the awards were handed out, Gilday said she was eager for a win.

"I’m really hoping that the whole Dene Nation got online and voted for me," Gilday said with a laugh. "But essentially, it just means that I have the support of my people so that’s a really awesome thing."

Fellow northerner Elisapie Isaac, an Inuk singer-songwriter from Nunavik, was up for the same award.

Yukon’s Diyet was nominated for the Best New Artist category. She is a member of the Kluane First Nation.

Diyet said it’s wonderful to be acknowledged by peers and the industry.

"It means you’re doing something right. So for me, this means I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing. I have to keep going on this path and see where it takes me," she said.

Inuvik’s Leanne Goose was nominated for the Best Country CD category. She also presented the Aboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year award to Derek Miller from Six Nations in Ontario.

Winnipeg group Winnipeg’s Most cleaned up at the awards this year, winning Best Group, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Music Video for All that I know and Best Album Cover Design.

The nominees were selected by the members of the music industry and people from across the country voted online for the winners.

The annual awards ceremony showcases and celebrates aboriginal musical talent from across North America.