Don Amero brings music to Treaty #3

Juno-award nominee Don Amero recently performed for youth at schools in a number of Treaty #3 communities.
“I did an hour-long session with the kids and I shared my story, played a few songs and answered some questions the kids might have had about music as a career or even life questions about something they might be going through and how I overcame some of the things I went through,” Amero said. “It has always been a goal of mine to inspire students to do what I do and hopefully I inspired a few.”
Amero wants to continue working with youth in their communities to encourage them to “not let the tragedies and the tough things in life define what they do.”
“My hope is that they will overcome those things and do whatever they want to do and believe in their dreams and pursue that,” Amero said.
The Cree-Metis musician from Winnipeg finished third after winner Crystal Shawanda and runner-up BURNT-Project 1 for Aboriginal Album of the Year at this year’s Juno Awards in Regina.
His fourth album, Heart On My Sleeve, was nominated for the award at the April 21 annual awards ceremony.
Amero previously won Single of the Year and Best Pop CD at the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Best New Artist at the 2011 Native American Music Awards and Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year at the 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
“Playing at the MTS Centre for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards has been one of the biggest highlights,” Amero said. “If I could play for 5,000 people I’d be set. The energy in that place is unbelievable; the Aboriginal music fans are so great. It’s unbelievable being able to share the stage with some of my mentors and the people who have started up the Aboriginal music scene.”
Amero began pursuing a music career about six years ago after first developing an interest in writing music when he was about 15 years old.
“It took me a long time to figure out how to write a decent song,” Amero said. “About six years ago I started doing this full-time. I was working as a hardwood floor installer and I didn’t want to become an old guy and look back on life saying why didn’t I give it a shot. So I jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back since.”
Amero has since performed across Canada in concerts and festivals, with the symphony, on national television and at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City.
“I’ve been coast to coast in Canada,” Amero said. “I do from 100 to 150 shows a year, a lot of them in Manitoba because that is my own province.”
Amero is currently working on putting together a travelling stage show in theatres across the country, which he aims to launch in about a year and a half.