Native American Music Awards

The Native American Music Awards (NAMA), or the NAMAs, now in its fourteenth year, are an awards program presented annually by The Native American Music Association & Awards, which recognizes outstanding musical achievement among Native Americans. The awards were created in 1998 to offer Native American musicians in the music industry greater exposure and opportunities for mainstream recognition.

The awards show honors national recordings released in the previous calendar year that encompass traditional and contemporary Native American musical instrumentation and/or lyrics with strong native content or messages. Traditional music was an integral part of Native American life and tribal identity, such as; round dance songs and flute music. Today, contemporary Native American music has grown to encompass many popular genres such as; rock, pop, blues, hip hop, country, and new age as well as some uniquely distinctive genres such as; Waila or Chicken scratch, and Native American church music.

Nominees are submitted and selected by a national Advisory membership, consisting of individuals directly involved in recording, manufacturing, distributing and promoting Native American music nationally. Winners are selected by a combined vote by the national membership and the general public, who can listen to and vote on nominees' tracks on the Native American Music Awards website.

The awards ceremony features live artist performances and 30 awards categories in various traditional and contemporary music genres, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame inductions. At times the program expands beyond the United States to award indigenous music initiatives originating in parts of Canada, Central America and South America. NAMA also honors music contributions by non-Native artists in one category ("Native Heart").

The Annual Native American Music Awards, which USA Today urges to “take seriously” and Indian Country Today has called, “Awesome & Incredible,” is the largest professional membership-based organization for Contemporary and Traditional Native American Music Initiatives and consists of over 20,000 registered voting members and professionals in the field of Native American music. They also hold the largest Native American Music Library in the World with a national archive featuring a collection of over 10,000 audio and video recordings in all formats housed since 1990.

2011 13th Annual Awards

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Gabriel Ayala Passion Fire & Grace

BEST BLUES RECORDING Indian Rock ‘n Roll Marc Brown & The Blues Crew

BEST COMPILATION RECORDING The Color of Hope Various Artists

BEST COUNTRY RECORDING Native Heart C.C. Murdock

DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR Bear Fox Rich Girl

DEBUT GROUP OF THE YEAR October Soul Don’t Turn Back

BEST FEMALE ARTIST Becky Thomas Sacred Ground

BEST FOLK RECORDING The Long Way Home Don Amero

FLUTIST OF THE YEAR Cody Blackbird The Journey

BEST GOSPEL INSPIRATIONAL RECORDING My Jesus I Love Thee Yvonne St. Germaine

GROUP OF THE YEAR Pipestone As The Rez Turns

BEST HISTORICAL RECORDING Native Anthropology Challenge, Choice and Promise in the 21st Century Jack Gladstone

BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING Songs For Turtle Island Vince Fontaine

BEST LATIN AMERICAN RECORDING Indians Colour Luis Capcha Vilchez

BEST MALE ARTIST Gary Small Wyoming (For Dummies)

BEST NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH RECORDING Love Songs of the Native American Church Kevin Yazzie

BEST NEW AGE RECORDING Hymns Golana

BEST POP RECORDING Hear Our Prayer Dylan Jenet Collins

BEST POW WOW RECORDING Black Thunder Black Thunder Singers

BEST PRODUCER Stephen Butler Handprints of Our People

BEST RAP/HIP HOP RECORDING Scars and Bars Nake Nula Waun

RECORD OF THE YEAR Full Circle Shelley Morningsong

BEST ROCK RECORDING Tribal Thunder The Blessed Blend

SONG SINGLE OF THE YEAR Out of Many We Are One Joseph FireCrow, Thomasina Levy & Others

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Josh Halverson These Times

BEST SPOKEN WORD RECORDING My Life Is My Sun Dance Harvey Arden and Leonard Peltier

BEST TRADITONAL RECORDING The Gift of Life Randy Wood

BEST MUSIC VIDEO Live As One Jan Michael Looking Wolf Various Artists

BEST LONG FORM VIDEO Journey To Soul Blessings Tony Redhouse

BEST WAILA RECORDING Timeless Native Thunder

BEST WORLD MUSIC RECORDING Kayas Rhonda Head

NATIVE HEART Bernhard Wolfsheart Weilguni Call of the Canyons

HALL OF FAME Keith Secola

HALL OF FAME Nokie Edwards

Jim Thorpe Sports Award Ted Nolan

2010 12th Annual Awards

The twelfth annual NAMA ceremony took place Friday, November 12, 2010 at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. WGWE, the radio station owned and operated by the Seneca nation, was the official broadcaster of the event.

Lifetime Achievement - Bobby Bullet

Joseph FireCrow won for Artist of the Year & Flutist of the Year

Twice As Good, If That's All Right With You took Best Blues Recording

Randy McGinnis, Walking With The Spirits, took Best Compilation Recording

Shane Yellowbird, won Best Country Recording for It's About Time

Victoria Blackie Debut Artist of the Year

Dark Water Rising - Debut Group of the Year

Tinesha Begaye, Best Female Artist

Michael Bucher, Believe, Best Folk Recording

Sayani, Sacred Fire for Best Gospel Inspirational Recording

Blue Dog - Group of the Year

Nokie Edwards, Best Instrumental Recording

Jay Begaye Best Male Artist

Dakota Lakota Traditional Church Songs By Sacred Harmonies, Best Native American Church Recording

Joanne Shenandoah for Enchanted Garden for Best Native American Church Recording

Digging Roots, We Are for Best Pop Recording

The Boyz, for Best Pow Wow Recording, Boyz Will Be Boyz

Frank Waln, Always Ready, for Best Producer

Chase Monchamp, Tribal Tribulations, for Best Rap Hip Hop Recording

Jan Michael Looking Wolf Band - Breakin Free for Record of the Year Segweh, Segweh for Best Rock Recording

Windwalker of Wind Spirit Drum or for Song Single of the Year

Brad Clonch & Jeff Carpenter, Fight For Survival, for Songwriter of the Year

The Story Tellers, Stories From The Social Fire for Best Spoken Word Recording

Bo Taylor,Rebuilding The Fire, for Best Traditional Recording

Native Thunder Get'n Down for Best Waila Recording

Gabriel Ayala, Remembrance, for Best World Music Recording

Wolfsheart of Big City Indians, for Native Heart Award

2009 11th Annual Awards

The following awards were presented at the Eleventh Annual Native American Music Award ceremony on October 3, 2009, at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY:

Artist of the Year: Jan Michael Looking Wolf (for The Looking Wolf Project)

Best Blues Recording: Dancing In The Rain by Graywolf Blues Band

Best Compilation Recording: Bitter Tears Sacred Ground by Joanne Shenandoah and Michael Bucher

Best Country Recording: Life Is Calling My Name by Shane Yellowbird

Debut Artist of the Year: Skylar Wolf (for Devil’s Son)

Debut Duo/Group of the Year: Will & Lil Jess (for Reservation Nights)

Best Female Artist: Joy Harjo (for Winding Through The Milky Way)

Best Folk Recording: Four Wolves Prophecy by Atsiaktonkie

Flutist of the Year: JJ Kent (for Tate’ Topa Win)

Best Gospel/Inspirational Recording: "Amazing Grace" by Lenape Spirits from Wind Spirit Drum

Group of the Year: Brulé (for Lakota Piano II)

Best Historical Recording: Native Pride by Thunder Hawk Singers

Best Instrumental Recording: Tango! by Gabriel Ayala

Best Male Artist: Bryan Akipa (for Songs From The Black Hills)

Best Native American Church Recording: Peyote Ways by Primeaux & Mike

Best New Age Recording: Deep Within by Tony Redhouse

Best Pop Recording: Na Unu Nahai (Shape Shifter) by Apryl Allen

Best Pow Wow Recording: Band of Brothers by Midnite Express

Best Producer: Kelly Parker (for Out Of The Blue)

Best Rap/Hip Hop Recording: All Day All Night by Rezhogs

Record of the Year: Earth Gift by Kevin Locke

Best Rock Recording: Sirensong by Eagle & Hawk

Song/Single of the Year: A Change Is Gonna Come by Jana Mashonee

Songwriter of the Year: Samantha Crain (for The Confiscation: A Musical Novella)

Best Spoken Word Recording: "The Great Story From The Sacred Book" from Rain Song by Terry and Darlene Wildman

Best Traditional Recording: It Is A New Day by the Oshkii Giizhik Singers

Video: Movin On by Charly Lowry & Aaron Locklear

Best World Music Recording: Ceremony by Michael Searching Bear

Native Heart: Michael Brant DeMaria (for Siyotanka)

Living Legend: Tommy Allsup

Hall of Fame: Ritchie Valens

2008 10th Annual Awards

The following awards were presented at the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards ceremony:

Artist of the Year: Jim Boyd

Best Blues Recording: Deep Downtown by Jimmy Wolf

Best Compilation Recording: Old Style Round Dance Songs

Best Country Recording: No Lies by Tracy Bone

Debut Artist of the Year: Cheryl Bear

Debut Group of the Year: Injunuity

Best Female Artist: Nicole

Best Folk Recording: Where the Green Grass Grows by The Crow Girls

Flutist of the Year: Jan Michael Looking Wolf

Best Gospel/Inspirational Recording: Precious Memories by The Cherokee National Youth Choir

Group of the Year: Native Roots

Best Historical Recording: Chief Seattle Speaks 1854 by Red Hawk

Best Instrumental Recording: Mirror Lake by Golaná

Best Male Artist: Edmund Bull

Best Native American Church Recording: New Beginning by Janelle Turtle

Best New Age Recording: Homeland Security by Carroll Medicine Crow

Best Pop Recording: Phoenix by Fara Palmer

Best Pow Wow Recording: Hear the Beat by the Blackfoot Confederacy

Best Producer: Adrian Brown, Tim Sampson, Jonathon Joss, Charles Button

Best Rap/Hip Hop Recording: Native American Hustle by Dago Braves

Record of the Year: (Silence) is a Weapon by Blackfire

Song/Single of the Year: Broken Dreams by Nightshield

Songwriter of the Year: Star Nayea

Best Spoken Word Recording: The Storytellers by Ken Quiet Hawk

Best Traditional Recording: Traditional Navajo Shoe Songs by Gilbert Begay Sr

Best Short Form Music Video: "The Enlightened Time" by Jana

Best Long Form Video: Live at Mt. Rushmore: Concert for Reconciliations of Cultures by Brulé and AIRO

Best World Music Recording: Celebrate by Native Roots

Native Heart: Ed Stasium, producer for (Silence) is a Weapon

Lifetime Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame inductions

Another feature of the Native American Music Awards is the Lifetime Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame inductions:

Hall of Fame inductions

Jimi Hendrix (1998)

Buddy Red Bow (1998)

Hank Williams (1999)

Jim Pepper (2000)

Crystal Gayle (2001)

Kitty Wells (2002)

Doc Tate Nevaquaya (2006)

Link Wray (2007)

Redbone (2008)

Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd/Blackfoot (2008)

Janice Marie Johnson of A Taste of Honey (2008)

Felipe Rose of Village People (2008)

Ritchie Valens (2009)

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Robbie Robertson (1998)

Rita Coolidge (1999)

Tom Bee of XIT (2000)

R. Carlos Nakai (2001)

John Densmore (2003)

Tiger Tiger (2007)

Joanne Shenandoah (2008)

Bill Miller (2008)

Stevie Salas (2009)

John Trudell (Living Legend, 1998)

Navajo Code talkers (Living Legend, 1999)

The Neville Brothers (Living Legend, 2001)

Floyd Red Crow Westerman (Living Legend, 2002)

Tommy Allsup (Living Legend, 2009)

Previous honorees

Past recipients of NAMA awards include: Adrian Brown, Tim Sampson, Jonathon Joss, Charles Button, AIRO, Andrew Vasquez, Annie Humphrey, Apache Spirit, Apryl Allen, Arigon Starr, Arvel Bird, Atsiaktonkie, Bear Fox, Becky Thomas, Bill Miller, Billy Whitefox, Black Eagle, Blackfoot Confederacy, Black Lodge Singers, Black Thunder Singers, Blackfire, Bluedog, Bo Taylor, Bryan Akipa, Brule', Buddy Red Bow, Buddy Big Mountain, Buffy Sainte- Marie, Buggin Malone, Burning Sky, CC Murdock, Carroll Medicine Crow, Casper Loma-da-wa, Cecil Gray & Red Dawn Blues Band, Charly Lowry, Chase Monchamp, Chase Manhattan, Chief Jim Billie, Cherokee National Children's Choir, Cheryl Bear, Clan/destine, Cody Blackbird, Cozad, Crystal Gayle, Dago Braves, Dark Water Rising, Delphine Tsinajinnie, Derek Miller, Digging Roots, Don Amero, Douglas Blue Feather, Dylan Jenet Collins, Eagle & Hawk, Edmund Bull, Eli Secody, Evren Ozan, Evren Ozan, Eyabay, Fara Palmer, Felipe Rose, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Frank Waln, Nake Nula Waun, Fredrick Whiteface, Gabriel Ayala, Gary Small, Gathering of Nations, Gilbert Begaye Sr, Golana, Graywolf Blues Band, Hank Williams, Harvey Arden, Indigenous, Indigo Girls, Injunity, Jeff Carpenter, Brad Clonch, JJ Kent, Jack Gladstone, Jana, Janelle Turtle, Janice Marie Johnson, Jan Michael Looking Wolf, Jay Begaye, Jay Nez, Jennifer Kreisberg, Jerry Alfred, Jim Boyd, Jim Pepper, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Lee Young, Jimmy Wolf, Joanne Shenandoah, John Trudell, Joseph FireCrow, Joseph M Marshall III, Josh Halverson , Joy Harjo, Judy Trejo, Kansas Begaye, Keith Bear, Keith Secola, Kelly Parker, Ken Quiet Hawk, Kevin Locke, Kevin Yazzie, Kitty Wells, Koljademo, Lakota Thunder, Laughing Woman & Eagle Wings, Lil Dre, Link Wray, Litefoot, Luis Capcha Vilchez, Marc Brown & The Blues Crew, Marlena Begaye, Mary Louise Defender Wilson, Mary Youngblood, Martha Redbone, Medicine Dream, Micki Free, Michael Bucher, Michael Jacobs, Michael Searching Bear, Midnite Express, Nake Nula Waun, Nakai, Eaton, Cilpman, Native Roots, Native Thunder, Neville Brothers, Nicole, NightShield, Nokie Edwards, Northern Cree, October Soul, Oshkii Giizhik Singers, Pamyua, Pima Express, Pipestone, PM Begay, Primeax & Mike, Pura Fe', Qua ti Si, Radmilla Cody, RainSong, R. Carlos Nakai, R. Carlos Nakai Quartet, Randy McGinnis, Randy Wood, Red Bull, Red Earth, Red Feather Woman, Red Hawk, Rezawrecktion, Rezhogs, Rhonda Head, Rita Coolidge, Robbie Robertson, Robert Mirabal, Robert Tree Cody, Robert Tree, Tony Redhouse, Rubin Romero, Rollin Fox, Sacred Harmonies, Samantha Crain, Sayani, Segweh, Shadowyze, Shane Yellowbird, Sharon Burch, Shelley Morningsong, Silverbird, Skylar Wolf, Stan Summers, Stephen Butler, Stevie Salas, Stuart Snake & Paul Never Misses A Shot, The Blessed Blend, The Boyz, The Crow Girls, The Story Tellers, Thunderbird Sisters, Thunder Hawk Singers, Tiger Tiger, Tinesha Begaye, Tom Bee, Tommy Allsup, Tommy Wildcat, Tony Redhouse, Tracy Bone, Travis Harden, Tribal Live, Twice As Good, Victoria Blackie, Vince Fontaine, Yarina, Yolanda Martinez, Yvonne St Germaine, Wade Fernandez, Walela, Warfield Moose Jr, Wayquay, Will & Lil Jess, Wind Spirit Drum, Wolfsheart & Big City Indians, Bruce Cockburn, Ed Stasium, Jeff Ball, Jackson Browne, John Densmore, Michael Brant DeMaria, Neil Young, Raymond Boley, Scott August, Stefan Gelfas, Tom Wassinger,