Rhythm and blues group Pappy Johns Band received five Aboriginal Music Award nominations Wednesday, including best group and song.

The five musicians from Fort Erie, Ont., are best known as the house band for the popular aboriginal TV variety show Buffalo Tracks.

Hip hop group War Party, of Hobbema, Alta., earned three nominations, including best music video.

The fourth annual awards show will be held Nov. 28 at the SkyDome in Toronto.

The ceremony, part of the week-long Canadian Aboriginal Festival, celebrates the cultural heritage of North American aboriginal people, said Rob Robert, executive producer of the awards from his office in Brantford, Ont.

"It gives our musicians exposure to a general audience," he said. "For a long time a lot of people were surprised at the quality of our music and its diversity."

The 13 categories range from best folk album to best pow wow album but also include more contemporary genres like rap and hip hop.

Robert said the awards help the aboriginal community uncover new talent and musical styles that will define native culture in the future.

"It's important for our young people to get recognized."

Nominees for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards:

Best Drum Songs Album: Little Island Cree, Till the End of Time; Delia and the Waskewitch Boys, Delia and the Waskewitch Boys; Art Moosomin, One More Time.

Best Pow Wow Album Contemporary: Bear Creek, Live; Northern Cree, Double Platinum; Nakoda Lodge Singers, Dark Realm.

Best Pow Wow Album Traditional: Red Bull, Traditional; Walking Wolf Singers, Walking Wolf Vol. 2; Bear Creek, Live.

Best Rap or Hip Hop Album: War Party, Exclusive Rez; War Party, The Reign; KASP and DJ Combs, Komplikations.

Best Folk Album: Leela Gilday, Spirit World, Solid Wood; Paul Chaput, Sweet Rain White Lights Red Blues; Dean Auger, I've Never Been South Before.

Best Male Artist: Paul Chaput, Sweet Rain White Lights Red Blues; Randy Wood, Round Dance the Night Away; Faron Johns (Pappy Johns Band), Blame It on Monday.

Best Female Artist: Cindy Scott, This Northern Girl; Nancy Johnson, Pretty Good Sign; Leela Gilday, Spirit World, Solid Wood.

Best Group/Duo: Spirit Nation, Winter Moon; Pappy Johns Band, Blame It on Monday; Northern Cree, Round Dance Jam.

Best Songwriter: Cindy Scott, This Northern Girl; Leela Gilday, Spirit World, Solid Wood; Faron Johns (Pappy Johns Band), Blame It on Monday.

Best Song/Single: Thinking About You, Crystal Anne; Medicine Rapids, Corney Michel; Blame It on Monday, Faron Johns (Pappy Johns Band); Anthem to the People, Rick Moulton and Jane Chartrand.

Best Music Video: War Party, The Reign; Charlie Ninguik, Inuuqatik; Tumassi Quitsaq, Tumassi Quitsaq.

Best Album Cover Design: Dean Auger, I've Never Been South Before; Spirit Whistle, Spirit Whistle; Charlie Ninguik, Inuit Nunangani.

Best Producer/Engineer: Alec Frasier & Pappy Johns Band, Blame It on Monday; Curtis Cardinal, No Lies; Corney Michel, Medicine Rapids.