Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 10/05) - Diga is no longer the best kept secret in the North.

Already recognized as an accomplished musician in the Territories, Diga is among the most prominent nominees announced last month for the seventh annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

Diga is nominated for Best Male Artist and Best Folk Album at the 2005 Aboriginal Music Awards for his album Earth is Crying. - photo courtesy of Diga publicity

The song writer is in the running for the Best Male Artist and Best Folk Album categories, for his 2005 CD release, Earth Is Crying.

"It's a good feeling," he said. The music on Earth is Crying is a genre all its own, featuring a blend of instrumental and alternative Dogrib music.

"It's not really folk, it's not really blues, it's not really rock, it's not really country," Diga said. "The album is a lot of exploring, trying to understand who we are and where we come from. It's a lot of family, a lot of friends and a lot of soul-searching."

He plans to attend the awards ceremony in Toronto on Nov. 25. The awards celebrate the musical contributions of Aboriginal people by honouring premier musicians, groups and industry professionals across the country.

Diga started playing guitar in 1989 while growing up in Fort Rae.

"My brother, David Gon, taught me guitar," he said. "He inspired me to pursue a music career."

He first performed live with Northern Band, with Fort Rae musicians Joe Zoe and Peter Husky.

He played Folk on the Rocks for the first time with the band in 1992.

He dedicated Earth is Crying to his mother, Mary Adel Gon, and his sisters and brothers, especially David.

"I'm starting to think about what direction I want the next album to take," he said.

"The ideas are still floating around in my head right now."