Award Categories
Buckley Petawabano Award
The Buckley Petawabano Award is named after Buckley Petawabano who is regarded as an icon of Cree influences in the media. The award recognizes excellence in the media field.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who has achieved a high level of success over his or her lifetime.
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award acknowledges an individual’s hard work and dedication to their arts endeavor and who are committed to bringing their art to a professional level.
Self Innovator Award
The Self Innovator Award not only celebrates artists who have taken a traditional art form and re-fashioned it to make it their own, but also those who have taken their own initiative to promote their art either locally and/or regionally.
Best Fiddler Award
The Best Fiddler award is awarded to the best fiddler in Eeyou Istchee.
Visual Arts Award
Presented to an artist who has achieved excellence or has made a significant contribution to the visual arts scene in any medium, including painting, carving, sculpture, ceramics, photography, drawing, etc.
Performing Arts Award
Presented to an artist or group who has achieved excellence or has made a significant contribution to the field of performing arts, including theater, music, dance, etc.
Traditional Arts Award
Presented to an artist or artisan who has achieved excellence or has made a significant contribution to Eeyou traditional arts and crafts
Contemporary Arts Award
Presented to an artist or artisan who has achieved excellence and innovation in utilizing Eeyou traditional arts and crafts as an inspiration for creating contemporary art.
Multidisciplinary Arts Award
Presented to an artist who has achieved excellence or has made a significant contribution to the field of multidisciplinary arts, including multimedia, storytelling, and literature.
CNACA Arts Leadership Award
This award honors an organization or group that advances, contribute to the preservation of, or whose vision and leadership provide heightened visibility to the value of Cree arts and crafts.
Youth Artist of the Year
The Youth Artist of the Year recognizes young Crees’ contributions to the arts in Eeyou Istchee. The award aims to promote a positive image of young people, to generate awareness of the valuable contributions that youth make to our community, and to encourage and support their continued engagement and creativity in the arts and crafts sector.
The Artist Entrepreneur Award
The Artist Entrepreneur Award is a prestigious accolade that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and innovation while successfully navigating the business aspects of the art world. This award celebrates those artists who not only excel in their craft but also exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit that allows them to thrive in a competitive and ever evolving industry.