There are currently no categories in the Grammy Awards dedicated solely to Indigenous or Native American music; however, the Recording Academy has launched a new Indigenous Peoples Network designed to enhance representation of Native music and its traditions.
The Academy spent the past year indulging in listening sessions, dialogue – including the composer and music supervisor for “Reservation Dogs), and events before committing to further their initiative of musical diversity and inclusion.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr spoke on the new initiative saying, “the Recording Academy is committed to reflecting and serving all of today’s broad, bold, diverse music community. I’m thrilled that we are playing a role in supporting Indigenous music creators. These music traditions have been with us forever and have influenced every American musical genre. And they are still thriving today.”
YVHIKV of THRONE, Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache, Mersaedy Atkins, Renata Yazzie, Lil Mike & Funny Bone, Connor Chee – Diné, Raye Zaragoza, Nimkish Younging, Nathan Mudge, PJ Vegas, Sean Smith, and Ralph Olivarez; as well as, the Pawnee, Choctaw, Navajo Nation, Akimel O’odham, Tumutevarovaro, The Yoeme People, and Chino Nations have participated in the creation of the network.
The Indigenous Peoples Network is a part of the Recording Academy’s “DREAM” Initiative – Diversity Reimagined by Engaging All Musicmakers – an initiative that works to foster inclusion and equality across the music industry.
Other groups in the DREAM Iniitative are Women in the Mix, the Black Music Collective, Grammy’s Next Gen, Academy Proud (LGBTQIA +), the Gold Music Alliance (Pan-Asian musicians), and RAA+D (Recording Academy Accessibility & Disability).