Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Aysanabee’s album Watin features his grandfather’s voice as interludes to his soulful concept music. The album, which is named after his grandfather, is an homage to the Oji-Cree musician’s childhood. The work touches on loss, but also on the transformative power of reassembly. Aysanabee has described the pandemic-era project as “a work of renewal, gathering the fragments of language, family and memory as an immense and intimate work of rebuilding.”
Aysanabee is one of six performers at the first in-person Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards (SSIMAs). Indian City, Andrea Menard, Plex, and Joel Wood will join Aysanabee on stage. Anishinaabe activist and content creator Sarain Fox will host the event, which takes place tonight at the National Arts Centre.
Out of 250 nation-wide submissions, winners will take home awards in 16 categories, including two international awards and a musical legacy and contribution award. Everything from solos to ensembles will be judged by Indigenous and music industry professionals.
Coinciding with Indigenous History Month, the SSIMAs is taking place ahead of the Ottawa Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival this June. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy a marketplace, cooking classes, creative workshops, and an Indigenous picnic. Indigenous-led events are on throughout the month, and are aimed at celebrating the diverse culture of the Indigenous community.
The Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards take place at the National Arts Centre tonight, June 6, at 7pm. Tickets range from $20 to $75 and are available online at Ticketmaster.
