A champion of Indigenous artists mourned

Family, friends and the music industry in Manitoba are in mourning after multi-awardwinning First Nations musician Vince Fontaine died suddenly this week.

Fontaine first gained success in the music industry in 1995 as a guitarist of the roots-rock group Eagle & Hawk. He cofounded the band with former Canadian Football League allstar Troy Westwood. The group would eventually become one of the country’s most celebrated and internationally-touring Indigenous bands, says Fontaine’s biography.

In its decades-long history, the band garnered dozens of major music awards nominations and wins, including a Juno in 2002 and a western Canadian Music Award.

Fontaine expanded his musical reach with a new act in 2011 when he created the folk-pop group Indian City, which brought together a collective of musicians and showcased rich and vibrant Indigenous cul- tures.

“He was a champion of Indigenous artists and everything that Indigenous artists have to offer to the industry and to Canada,” said his niece, Nahanni Fontaine, a Manitoba MLA.