After a two day delay due to a massive lake effort snow storm in western New York, the Native American Music Awards celebrated 20 years of honouring the best in Native American music and musicians with their awards presentation on November 21 at the Bear’s Den Showroom in the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
November is much more than eating turkey and watching football, it is Native American Heritage month and the perfect time to honour the best of Native American music and musicians.
Along with the awards for the best in music, Oren Lyons will be presented with the Living Legend Award and Micki Free of Shalamar will be inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame. Oren Lyons is the Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan in the Onondaga Nation. The 92 year old Wisdom Kepper is an artist, speaker, author, and environmental activist. A member of the All-American Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Lyons is the Honorary Chairman of the Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse program.
Micki Free is a Grammy and Native American Music Award winner whose music has been heard soundtracks of “Footloose” and “Beverly Hills Cop”.
Native American Music Award winners Paul LaRoche and Robert Tree Cody will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Actor Robert Mesa is set to host the gala events. Mesa recently appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Dr. James Chee – the show’s first Indigenous doctor.
Antoine Edwards Jr, Cody Blackbird, Earl Slick and the Fabulous Ripcord, Fawn Wood, Gunner Jules, Spur Pourier, Sten Joddi, and The Halluci Nation are all set to perform; western New York’s Ed Koban and his band return to serve as the house band and to provide artist accompaniment.
The 2022 Native American Music Awards winners:
Male Artist of the Year: Sten Joddi
Female Artist of the Year: Ava Rose
Best Debut Artist: Charles Wood III
Best Debut Duo or Group: he Buffalo Weavers
Best Group of the Year: The Ripcords for “Unmasked”
Best Blues Recording: “The Roof is Leaking” by Earl Slick and the West Side Social Club
Best Christian or Inspirational Performance: “Sorrow Road” by Yvonne St. Germaine
Best Country Recording: “Music is Medicine” by Elexa Dawson
Best Flute Recording: “Moonlight Love Songs” by Aaron White
Best Folk or Americana Recording: “I Am” by Kelly Derrickson
Best Instrumental Recording: “Under Open Sky” by Ancient Voices
Best Native American Church Recording: “Remembering Our Elders” by Jarvis Hunter
Best Pop Recording: “Rising Waters” by Melody McArthur
Best R&B Recording: “The Rez Hummingbird” by Ramonda Holiday
Best Rap or Hip-Hop Recording: “It’s a Native Thang” by Sten Joddi
Best Rock Recording: “Who We Are” by (Cody and Caleb) Blackbird
Best Pow Wow or Drum Songs Recording: “Cree Round Dance Songs” by Young Spirit
Best Traditional Recording: “Shining So Bright” by Spur Pourier
Best Waila Recording: “Tribal Harmony” by Intertribal
Native Heart: “Distant Lands” by Gera & T.M
Single of the Year: “Bloomsday” by Samantha Crain
Best Song: “G Precious” by Unforgettable with Macy Gray
Best Artist of the Year Album: “Kakike” by Fawn Wood
Best Honor or Tribute Song: “I’m Missing You” by Hannah Bonez and Leah Shenandoah
BMI Rising Star: Bryant Waupoose III
Best Animation in a Video: “Stay” by The Halluci Nation
Best Blues Video: “Pray for Our Planet” by Blue Mountain Tribe
Best Country Video: “The Ridge” by Julian Taylor
Best Collaboration in a Video: “Patience” by Antoine Edwards with Gunner Jules, Spur Pourier, and Miracle
Best Folk or Americana Video: “Toward the Rising Sun – Te Ata” by Tabitha Fair
Best Instrumental Video: “Frybread” by Connor Chee
Best Narrative in a Video: “Protect Your People” by Foreshadow
Best Pop Video: “Indian Girl Driving Me Crazy” by Joey Stylez
Best Rap or Hip-Hop Video: “Real Deadly” by Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Best Rock Video: “No Way Out” by The Bloodshots
Best Contemporary Vocal Video: “I Will Survive” by Shawn Michael Perry
Best Traditional Vocal Video: “Picadilly Billy” by the Martin Sisters
Best Live Performance Video: “The Storm” by the DOC Native with Spencer Battiest
Lifetime Achievement: Rodney A. Grant, Paul LaRoche, and Robert Tree Cody
Living Legend: Oren Lyons
Hall of Fame: Micki Free