National Aboriginal Role Models Take Centre Stage at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA)

Ottawa, ON – The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) is excited to announce that National Aboriginal Role Models and 2009 NARMP national spokesperson, Lucie Idlout represent thirty nine percent (39%) of this year’s Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA) finalists.

During the National Aboriginal Role Model Reunion Banquet on Tuesday November 24, 2009 in Ottawa, Ontario at the Crowne Plaza hotel, event goers were a buzz about the upcoming CAMA’s on Friday November 27, 2009 at Hamilton Place Theatre.

“It was just thrilling to discover that NAHO Role Models and Spokesperson represented such a large portion of the finalists at this year's Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards,” says Dr. Paulette C. Tremblay, CEO of NAHO.

“On Tuesday night, NAHO celebrated the achievements of the very talented First Nations, Inuit and Métis Role Models and it looks like there will be more to celebrate in the future.”

National Aboriginal Role Models are finalists in nine distinct CAMA categories between just four artists.

The Role Models who are finalists in this year’s CAMA awards are:

Inez, 2008 National Aboriginal Role Model, is a finalist for Best Female Artist and Best Blues Album for Singsoulgirl, and Best Album Cover Design with designer Ron Dean “Ostwelve” Harris and Artist/Photographer Nadya Kwandibens for Singsoulgirl.

Ry Moran, 2008 National Aboriginal Role Model, is a finalist Best Original Score for Tiga Talk! Session 1.

Charlotte Qamaniq, 2009 National Aboriginal Role Model, is part of the group Tumivut nominated for Best Female Traditional and Best Group or Duo. Also a part of this group is Cynthia Pitsiulak, who works as a Research Assistant at the Inuit Tutarvingat of NAHO.

Lucie Idlout, 2009 NARMP national spokesperson, is a finalist in the categories for Best Song Writer, Best Music Video and Best Rock Album for her latest album Swagger and Female Artist of the year.

It’s the 25th anniversary of the National Aboriginal Role Model Program funded through Health Canada and the 6th year of being administered by the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO). In the six years that NAHO has been administering NARMP there have been 72 Role Models recognized for their achievements. The air was filled with excitement and energy with 30 Role Models in attendance at the NAHO Reunion.

NARMP celebrates the accomplishments of First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth aged 13 to 30. "Lead Your Way", the program’s theme, inspires Aboriginal youth to strive to reach their goals.