SOCAN Foundation is delighted to announce Mamarudegyal MTHC (Diana Hellson) as the recipient of this year’s TD Indigenous Songwriter Award. Hellson (she/her/they/them) is an Afro-Indigenous musician, born and raised in Calgary, and is a registered band member of Siksika Nation (Treaty 7), where she grew up.
“My journey as a Song Keeper has led me to incredible places across Turtle Island, and sacred places within myself,” says Hellson. “It’s truly a privilege to have the ability to express myself, and all of life’s mayhem and beauty, in the form of song; it’s an especially high privilege to achieve a milestone like this in my career. I’m so grateful to my team, my supporters, my loved ones, Napi, and Creator. Sookapi.”
The SOCAN Foundation’s TD Indigenous Songwriter Award recognizes and celebrates the artistic merit demonstrated by Indigenous songwriters in any musical genre. Hellson will receive a cash prize of $10,000, in addition to career development opportunities, and a spot in SOCAN Foundation and Amazon Music’s Indigenous Song Camp in Toronto.
Honourable mention prizes of $1,000 are also being made to Falynn Baptiste (nêhiyaw/Cree, Red Pheasant Cree Nation), Sebastian Gaskin (Cree, Tataskweyak Cree Nation), Juurini (Inuk), Phyllis Sinclair (Cree, York Factory First Nation), and Joel Wood (Cree). The winners may use the funds to support their career development in various areas, including recording new music, videography, and business management.
“Empowering Indigenous voices is an essential part of reconciliation,” says Charlie Wall-Andrews, Executive Director of SOCAN Foundation. “The Indigenous Songwriter Award is designed to celebrate the craft of songwriting, while elevating the experiences and perspectives of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Indigenous songwriters enrich us all, and we’re proud to be a part of that. We’re thankful for the ongoing support from TD for this celebration of Indigenous songwriters in Canada.”
This special Award is made possible with the support of TD Bank Group. This year’s jury consisted of previous winner Leonard Sumner, as well as Charlotte Qamaniq, and Sister Ray.
