Thunder Mountain Singer enjoys successful year

The Thunder Mountain Singers’ win at the 2010 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards, new album release and City of Thunder Bay award is among Wawatay’s arts and culture stories of the year.
The Thunder Mountain Singers won the best powwow CD – traditional for their latest album One Voice One Nation at the 2010 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards Nov. 5 in Winnipeg.
“We were really amazed and shocked,” said David Wilkinson-Simard, a member of the Thunder Bay-based drum group. “We were really surprised that we won.”
Simard said the reaction from fans and friends has been great.
“We were just swamped on Facebook,” Wilkinson-Simard said. “It’s been non-stop with congratulations from people right across the world, in fact. It’s not just people in Ontario and Canada, it’s been into different countries.”
The group had also been nominated for best duo or group at the awards ceremony.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to be nominated,” said Longlac’s Clement Gustafson, who has been with the group since its inception in 1988.
“It’s good for the community, good for Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Robinson Superior treaty area, Treaty 3,” said Ryan Gustafson.
The Thunder Mountain Singers celebrated their album One Voice One Nation Oct. 15 and 16 during A Celebration of One Voice One Nation at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay.
“It features songs and dances from our album and from past work we have done,” Simard said. “We have friends and family who have come out to showcase the dancing and we have a narrator, Nathan Moses, who is providing story lines with the songs and dances and explaining the history of the drum group.”
The group, which performs an average of one show per week, won a Thunder Bay Arts and Heritage Award in June.
“We try to be very involved in the community,” Simard said.
The Thunder Mountain Singers performed Jan. 3 during the ceremonial arrival of the Olympic Torch at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.
With files from James Thom