Vince Fontaine remembered for his music, impact on Indigenous community
A mainstay of Manitoba’s music scene and Juno Award-winning musician Vince Fontaine died suddenly on Tuesday.
Since then, words of remembrance have flooded social media as he is being remembered for his musical contributions and so much more.
On Monday, Vince filmed a video for a sick friend. No one knew it would be one of his last performances.
“He just died suddenly, and I think our family is in quite a shock,” said Nahanni Fontaine, Vince’s niece.
Vince, a member of Sagkeeng First Nation, died of a heart attack on Tuesday at the age of 60, according to Nahanni, who is the MLA for St. Johns.
Nahanni noted that culture was always at the forefront of Vince’s music
“His vision for his music and his craft was that it was a vehicle for non-Indigenous peoples to understand the Indigenous reality in Canada,” she said.
Jay Bodner, Vince’s Eagle & Hawk bandmate of 25 years, remembers his commitment to bringing Indigenous culture into the mainstream, which was not easy for the duo in their early days.
“It was a lot of really difficult times. In the early days, we were often looked at as a bit of curiosity from the non-Indigenous world,” Bodner said.
Vince would go on to release over 10 albums, play around the world, and earn a Juno Award.
In 2012, he was inducted into the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Hall of Fame.
David McLeod, manager of NCI Radio Network, said it was an important moment of recognition.
“It was an Indigenous audience, Indigenous led. It was celebrating the fact that Vince had made such a difference and contribution and also looked out for young, up-and-coming talent,” McLeod said.
Vince is also being remembered for raising awareness on social issues that impact the Indigenous community
“Not only in the capacity as an entertainer, but as a citizen, he was more than eager to come and stand by us,” said Grand Chief Arlen Dumas of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
While Vince will certainly be remembered for his music, friends and family say his children were his most important legacy
“He always put his family first and they’re very, very close. That love and commitment to his family and that pride in his family will live on in his children’s children and his grandchildren,” Nahanni said.
Jacquie Black, filmmaker and storyteller, was the friend Vince was making a farewell video for on Monday.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said she has also passed away.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.