NIAGARA FALLS NY– Westbank First Nation artist Kelly Derrickson was voted Best Female Artist at the 2017 Native American Music Awards .  Derrickson performed I AM (Mother Nature) and Suicide Song live on stage last night at the award ceremony.

The video for I AM (Mother Nature) was released the day prior to the awards. Derrickson says that Mother Nature, “… needs us to wake up, connect and protect her. It’s time to plug in to each other and every living cell, animal and mammal on this planet and nourish the universal soul.”

Derrickson is a native of Westbank, BC. Her father is Grand Chief Ron Derrickson . They both share a deep concern for First Nation young people and co-wrote Suicide Song in response to feelings of despair among those who are impoverished and disadvantaged. The message to them, according to Derrickson is, “…listen to the lyrics of my songs, It is time to truly stop believing negative thinking or what you think others think of you…”.

Derrickson’s contribution to Indigenous music is “country tribal rock”.  Additional background on Kelly Derrickson is available here and on request. For media interest, please contact jchittenden@publictriumph.com

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