OTTAWA—Wiikwemkoong’s favourite daughter writer/singer Crystal Shawanda’s latest album ‘Fish Out of Water’ was nominated for an award at this year’s JUNOs in the Aboriginal Album of the Year category, losing with good spirits in the end to Quantum Tangle’s Tiffany Ayalik and Greyson Gritt and their innovative album ‘Tiny Hands.’
“Thank you, we still had so much fun,” exclaimed Ms. Shawanda when contacted by The Expositor. “The JUNO Awards put on an awesome show, featuring some of Canada’s best in all genres of music, and I was just thankful to be there. Being able to witness up close and personal, moments like Sarah McLachlin being honoured for her lifelong career, is truly an inspiration. Being recognized by the industry through a nomination gives me the motivation to keep creating. I was actually invited to perform at a few events for Junofest and made new fans and contacts, which like the nomination, are all contributing factors to building a lifelong career.
This has been quite the year for Ms. Shawanda, as she and partner Deewayne Strobel invited a new member into their family with the birth of daughter Zhaawande Naomi Rose Strobel.
