A pair of Cape Breton fiddlers were among the winners at last night’s East Coast Music Awards.

Natalie MacMaster and Morgan toney we’re each recognized in Atlantic Canada’s biggest music night of the year.

Toney was named the Indigenous artist of the year. He grew up in We’koqma’q and Wagmatcook First Nations in Nova Scotia and credits his love of music to his years spent participating in drum circles and listening to the songs of elders. He was nominated for three awards at last year’s ECMAs, but this is his first win. He managed to beat out another Cape Bretoner for the award, Gearl an Eskasoni hip hop artist.

MacMaster received the Director’s Special Achievement Award, which had been announced last month leading up the event. She has spent a lifetime in the music industry and has been awarded with the Order of Canada as well as a Grammy. Last night’s award recognized her immense contributions to the history of East Coast music.

The ECMAs continue in Halifax through the weekend with more awards to be handed out on Sunday.