The nominees for the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards (SSIMAs) have been announced. Aysanabee and Snotty Nose Rez Kids lead the nominees with 6 and 5 nominations respectively.
Winners will be announced at a live ceremony on June 6th at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, hosted by Anishinaabe activist, broadcaster, and content creator Sarain Fox. Tickets for the ceremony go on sale on Friday, May 19th at 10 am. A limited number of VIP tickets. VIP tickets will also be released, which will include a reception with artists, presenters and sponsors, as well as an Indigenous-inspired menu by National Arts Centre chef Chris Commandant. Tickets will be available for purchase at the NAC box office, or by clicking here.
See the full list of nominees below:
Radio Song Single of the Year
Nomads, Aysanabee
Thick As Thieves, Blue Moon Marquee
Wannabe, Indian City
Deadman, Logan Staats
I’M GOOD, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Country Album of the Year
That’s The Way It Goes, Jim Jacobs
Classic Country Couple, Jerry Sereda
A Place To Call Home, Trent Agecoutay
It’s Time, Jarrid Lee, Chief & Council
Pop/Alternative/Rock Album of the Year
Watin, Aysanabee
Zhawenim, Digging Roots
Code Red, Indian City
Kizmet, Melody McArthur
Star Nation, Nadjiwan
Live Musical Performance of the Year
Nomads, Aysanabee
Long Black Train, Blue Moon Marquee
War Club, DJ Shub
Codeine, Logan Staats
Grave Digger, Bully Mode, No Jesus
Piece, Sink or Swim Medley, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Social Voice
Digging Roots
Plex
Genevieve Salamone
Logan Staats
Adrian Sutherland
Roots Album of the Year
Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee
Zhawenim, Digging Roots
Inuugama, Joey Nowyuk
The Spaces In Between, Amanda Rheaume
When The Magic Hits, Adrian Sutherland
Rap/Hip Hop/Electronica Album of the Year
Passage, Cody Coyote
Going Through the Motions, Patrick
Moon Bird
Unidentified, MR. SAUGA
Who Am I To Judge, Plex
I’M GOOD, HBU?, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Metis Artist/Group of the Year
G.R. Gritt
Kaeley Jade
Andrea Menard
Amanda Rheaume
Brandi Vezina
International Indigenous Artist/Group Recording of the Year
G Precious
Solju
Secret Tween
Music in the Arts
Lacey Hill, Love Wins
Kaeley Jade, A Broken Heart
(Remembers the Breaking)
Jessica McMann, Muskwa’s Mountain Home
Recording Artist(s) of the Year
Ayasanabee
Digging Roots
Lacey Hill
Laura Niquay
Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Rising Star
Aysanabee
Laura Niquay
MR. SAUGA
Stun
Joel Wood
Inuit Artist/Group of the Year
Angela Amarualik
Beatrice Deer
Brenda Montana
Joey Nowyuk
Shauna Seeteenak
Pow Wow/Hand Drum/ Fiddle/Instrumental Album of the Year
kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ, Cikwes
Incandescent Tales, Jessica McMann
Ôskimacîtahowin: A New Beginning,
Northern Cree
Mikwanak Kamôsakinat, Joel Wood
Artistic Video
We Were Here (Jon B. Elliott) Aysanabee
Red Flags (Doug Bedard) Plex
The Unforgotten (Genevieve Salamone) Genevieve Salamone
DAMN RIGHT (Sterling Larose/ Ellie Cameron) Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Walk With Me (RoseAnna Schick) Adrian Sutherland
The 2023 SSIMAs take place on June 6th at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 19th and will be available to purchase by clicking here.