BlackRain celebrates their award for Rock/Heavy Metal/Blues Person or Group of the Year. (Submitted/ Ryan Peekeekoot)

By Nigel Maxwell

Award winners

BlackRain and JJ Lavalee among winners at Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards

Oct 17, 2025 | 12:00 PM

The 2025 Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards were held last Saturday at Prince Albert’s EA Rawlinson Centre, and a number of well-known artists from Northern Saskatchewan came away with some shiny hardware.

BlackRain was named Rock/Heavy Metal/Blues Person or Group of the Year, and band member Ryan Lee Peekeekoot said receiving the award felt awesome.

“It felt really good and we couldn’t stop smiling,” he said, adding that while they’ve been nominated a few times over the years, this was their first actual time winning.

Peekeekoot also expressed his thanks to both the band’s fans and to the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards Association.

BlackRain was performing a show at Plaza 88 and so their award was brought to them by Roland Corrigal. (Submitted/Ryan Peekeekoot)

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The night included a moment of silence for Seth and Rene Constant, members of the band who were recently killed in a car accident. Peekeekoot noted BlackRain thinks of Constant Reminder as brothers and has known them since they were kids.

“I was extremely saddened when I heard of Seth and Rene’s passing. They will forever be missed, and on behalf of my family and BlackRain, we give our love, support and condolences to the family.”

“We shared the stage with them many times. They had their own unique, vintage, old school, but modern sound and they have so much talent for such young guys.”

Another winnner was Saskatoon’s JJ Lavallee who was named Male Artist of the Year.

“I’m super honoured to receive this. I’m sure the judges had a difficult time going through the process with so many talented artists in the mix. I’m very grateful” he said.

Commenting on the deaths of Seth and Rene Constant, Lavallee said he did not get the chance to meet them personally, but added he had heard a lot about the super-talented band that was making a name for themselves.

“It’s always a difficult time when we lose members of our musical family. Condolences to the entire family and to all their supporters for this tragic loss.”

The big winner of the night was Terri Ann Strongarm, who won Emerging Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Fan’s Choice.

Carl Crane received the Willard Ahenakew Award and was named Indigenous Language Recording of the Year for “Astum Pa Petikwa.”

Other award winners:

Country/Roots Person or Group of the Year – Darryl Anderson

Rap/Hip Hop/Electronic Person or Group of the Year – RaytheNihilist

Gospel Recording of the Year – Donald McCallum, “Lord I’m Ready to Go Home”

Pow Wow Drum Group of the Year – Grey Buffalo

Song of the Year – Big Tones, “Shine”

Instrumentalist of the Year – Sean Bougie

Youth Award – Julianna Parenteau

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell