Manitobans celebrate the life of Vince Fontaine
Manitobans gathered to celebrate the life of Vince Fontaine, an icon in Manitoba's music and Indigenous communities.
Band members from Eagle & Hawk and Indian City performed in the Oodena Circle at The Forks to bid farewell to their friend.
Fontaine passed away suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 60 due to a heart attack.
His niece, and MLA for St. Johns, Nahanni Fontaine, said it was important for the family to bring the community together in his honour.
"It was through his music that he tried to connect community. That was the most important thing. That was the motivation for the work that he did and the music he produced."
Fontaine was a staple of the Indigenous music community in Manitoba and across Canada. He released more than ten albums and played around the world.
His musical talent earned him a Juno Award, and in 2012 he was inducted into the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame.
Nahanni said the outpour of support has helped the family through this difficult time.
"We've gotten messages from everywhere here in Manitoba, Winnipeg, and across Canada. But I've received messages as far as Germany and Austria."
Jay Bodner is a singer and rhythm guitar player for Eagle & Hawk and played alongside Fontaine for 25 years.
He said throughout his career, Fontaine worked hard to bring Indigenous music to the forefront.
"Not just from Winnipeg, but throughout North America. Pushing Indigenous music into the mainstream, and that's been one heck of a job."
The musical performances drew a big crowd as the band played songs from Fontaine's 25-year catalogue.
"We're going to try to span right from 1997 to the current Indian City album today in ten songs," said Bodner.
Nahanni said one of Fontaine's gifts was his compassion for others and the love and support he gave to all who knew him.
"He was the rock of our family, and he was always there for us, like he's always been there for the community, and he's going to be deeply, deeply missed."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Fontaine's wife and three children cover the costs associated with the burial.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.