ASSINIBOIA - The 34th annual Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards took place at the new Southland Co-op Centre in Assiniboia on June 10.
The 2023 awards are based on the previous year’s accomplishments and winners are voted on through the SMCA membership over several months.
Teagan Littlechief from the White Bear First Nations and Gayla Gilbertson from Stoughton attended the gala event.
Gilbertson was the owner of the Happy Nun Café in Forget, which was selected as the Venue of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.
Littlechief was picked for Indigenous Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year for the second straight year.
Both of these women have been down this road before with the anticipation of possibly winning an award and feel very honoured to be picked once again by the SCMA membership.
Littlechief is known for her strong vocals and has sung in many places, including the national anthem at the Saskatchewan Roughrider games and the 2022 Grey Cup in Regina, but she has also preformed at the Happy Nun. Littlechief sang at the Happy Nun Tribute as well. She already has several bookings for the year.
The Happy Nun was known for its unique venue, the amazing food and the historical items that were housed in the building, but on Dec. 15, 2022, the Nun burned down, leaving many in shock, but giving those that attended memories that would live on forever. The deck is the only thing that remains of the structure.
“The other nominees all had a great deal of talent and I felt honoured to be in the group, but I also felt they were more deserving of the award,” said Littlechief.
When Littlechief’s name was called for the Indigenous Artist of the Year, she was overwhelmed with emotion. This would be the second time on stage for her that night, as she also performed at the awards night. Her 11-year-old son Gabriel attended the event with her, and he told his mom all along that she would win.
Littlechief is grateful to those who voted for her and appreciates all the support she has received in the past, present and future.
As for Gilbertson, this would end an era for the Happy Nun Café.
“To feel the appreciation and love for everything the Happy Nun was by the SCMA membership was outstanding and a little over whelming,” said Gilbertson. “This was a wonderful way to honour the Nun.”
She expressed that the Town of Assiniboia and the SCMA had put on a wonderful weekend to respect all of the talent in Saskatchewan. She also said it was wonderful to see so many of the Happy Nun alumni honoured for all the hard work they had done.
Many of the talents that attended the awards night had at one time performed at the Happy Nun.
Both women said that there is a lot of amazing talent in the Saskatchewan country music scene and so many wonderful people.
They are happy and honoured to be a part of such a beautiful thing.
