The 19th Annual Native American Music Awards will take place at Seneca Niagara Hotel and Casino in Niagara Falls on Nov. 2. Among this year’s nominees are four New York-based acts. Public voting is now open through the NAMA website.
Syracuse’s Irv Lyons, Jr., Joanne Shenandoah, and the Ripcords were each nominated as well as Buffalo’s Nick Lone. Lyons earned two nominations, one for Best Rock Recording for his Sisters and Brothers album and one for Song of the Year, “Looking for the Light” from that album.
Lyons recorded his latest album at SubCat Studios in Syracuse with an all-star cast of area musicians that included Joe Driscoll, Billy Harrison, Melissa Gardiner, Edgar Pagan, Melanie Krahmer, Richie Melito, and others. Lyons is a Oneida Nation native and also a member of the Ripcords, who have also been nominated this year. His band’s sounds are rooted in blues, Latin jazz and country. The lineup he put together for his latest album brings hip-hop, jazz, rock, Latin jazz performers, producing a truly eclectic album.
Shenandoah is up for Best Indie Single of the Year for her song “We Will Rise Up.” She is a Grammy-winning and 14-time Nammy winning Oneida Nation Native that not only writes and performs but is also an internationally recognized humanitarian and peace advocate. She is a founding member of the Hiawatha Insitute for Indigenous Knowledge and has performed for the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. The Associated Press has described her as “America’s most celebrated and critically acclaimed Native American musicians of her time.”
Buffalo’s Nick Lone is nominated in the Best Rap/Hip Hop/R&B category for his song “Native Pride.”
The Ripcords are a Syracuse-based band influenced by the blues, roots rock, rock-a-billy, and the music of New Orleans. They’ve been on the Syracuse music scene since 2003 and have performed throughout the Northeast. The band has been nominated in the Best Blues and Best Live Video categories for this year’s Nammys for their album Live at SubCat Studios.
The full list of this year’s nominees is below.
19th Annual Native American Music Awards Nominees:
Artist of the Year
Bear Fox (Mohawk) – Life Blanket
Murphy Platero (Navajo) – Butterflies, Horses and Guitars
Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne) – Simple Truth
Tonemah (Lumbee) – Red Dirt Remark
Vince Redhouse (Navajo) – A Distant Star
Wade Fernandez (Menominee) – Journey of the Heart
Group or Duo of the Year
Crazy Flute (Cherokee) – We Belong To The Music
Cree Confederation (Cree/Various) – Medicine Horse
Larry Redhouse Quartet (Navajo) – Naomi’s Dance
Sihasin (Navajo) – Fight Like A Woman
The Cody Blackbird Band and Connor Chee (Dakota, Cherokee, Navajo) – Live From White Horse Black Mountain
Young Spirit (Plains Cree/Various) – Red Dress Special/Love, Life, Round Dance
New Artist or Debut Artist of the Year
Alex FireThunder (Lakota) – Makȟóčhe Kiŋ Theȟíla (Love For The Land)
D Johnson (Navajo) – K Town
David Lopez (Comanche/Tarahumara) – If I Won The Lottery
Def-i (Navajo) – Dream Trails
Matt James (Ojibway) – A Miner’s Prayer
Shon Denay (Oglala Lakota) – On The Rocks
New or Debut Duo/Group of the Year
Innastate (Jicarilla Apache/Jemez Pueblo/Santa Domingo Pueblo/Isleta Pueblo) – Verde
Niijii Singers and Ogiichidaa Singers (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwa) – Hear Our Songs
Stl’atl’imx & Friends (St’at’imc)- The Kindness Project
The Spiritual Warriors (Interior Salish Lil’wat) – Ancestors
War Bonnet (Ojibwe) – The Ghost Dance
Wildcat Peak (Navajo) – Awake
Best Female Artist
Blanca Iris Acuna (Taino) – Poets Ocean
Desja Eagle Tail (Crow/GrosVentre) – What Do I Got To Do
Jiiniikwe Medicine Bird (Bay Mills Anishinabe, Hunkpapa Lakota) -Destiny/Infinite Web
Koli Kohler (Hoopa, Yurok, Karuk) – How I Am
Marcia Chum (Cree) – Undone
Shon Denay (Oglala Lakota) – On The Rocks
Flutist of the Year
Calvin J. Standing Bear (Sicungu, Oglala) – Eagle Dances With The Wind
Dail Dragonfly Martin (Huron, Wyandott, MicMac) – Enter The Circle/ In The Spirit of Peace
Holly Harris of Painted Raven (Cherokee/Sioux) – Sacred Spiral
Jack Flute Holland of Crazy Flute (Cherokee) – We Belong To The Music
Vince Redhouse (Navajo) – A Distant Star
Wade Fernandez (Menominee)- Journey of the Heart
Best Male Artist
Herman Cody (Navajo) – Life On The Rez
Joe Tohonnie, Jr (Apache) – Journey Into A New Direction
Louie Gonnie (Navajo/Zuni) – Night Side
Lowery Begay (Navajo) – Touching The Sky
Murray Porter (Mohawk) – Stand Up!
Nahko (Apache) – Dragonfly
Record of the Year
A Distant Star – Vince Redhouse (Navajo)
Brother Hawk – Calvin J. Standing Bear & James Torres Red Tail Chasing Hawks (Sicungu, Oglala)
Colors of the Rainbow – Alexandro Querevalu’ (Quechua)
One Earth World Fusion Music – Various Artists
Ongtupqa – Clark Tenakhongva, Gary Stroutso, Matthew Nelson (Hopi)
Parallel Universe – Joseph FireCrow ( Northern Cheyenne), Thomasina Levy, David Darling
Red Dress Special – Young Spirit (Plains Cree/Various)
Song of the Year – Full-length recording
Ancestors Song – Stl’atl’imx & Friends (St’at’imc)- The Kindness Project
Clouds of Sunset — Alexandro Querevalu’ (Quechua) from Colors of the Rainbow
Looking For The Light – Irv Lyons Jr (Oneida)
Shine – Sihasin (Navajo)
SaVivor – Night Shield (Rosebud) featuring Wellington Downz & Cody Blackbird
This is Our Song- The Spiritual Warriors (Interior Salish Lil’wat) – Ancestors
Walk In Beauty – Joseph FireCrow ( Northern Cheyenne), Thomasina Levy, David Darling from Parallel Universe
Best Indie Single of the Year – Single Release Only
Directions – Hawane Rios featuring Nahko (Kanaka Madi/Apache)
Human – Twin Flames (Inuit/Mohawk, Cree/Metis)
I Don’t Give A – Mickie James (Powhatan)
Liberty – Eagle & Hawk (Ojibway)
My Supplication – Ellson Bennett ft Callie Bennett (Navajo)
We Are Love – Kelly Derrickson (First Nation Stylix)
We Will Rise Up – Joanne Shenandoah (Oneida)
When We Were Young – Jamie Coon (Creek/Seminole)
Best Independent Recording By A New Artist – Single Release Only
Beautiful Day- Raenisa Ridley (Ute Hopi)
Break These Chains – Just Jamez (Colville)
Dimmer – Corey Rae White (Ho Chunk)
Energies – Gunner Jules (Lakota)
Heaven’s Window – Ava Rose Johnson (Osage/Cherokee)
One of A Kind – Spur Pourier (Oglala)
Pagan – Glass Eden (Mescalero Apache, Quahada Comanche)
Undone – Marcia Chum (Cree Constance Lake)
Wild Rose – Whisperhawk (Shoshone)
Best Blues Recording
Live At Subcat Studios – The Ripcords (Onondaga Nation)
Lucky #13 – Marc Brown (Huslia)
No Color In The Blues – Jared Stewart (Crow)
Simple Truth – Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne)
Stand Up! – Murray Porter (Mohawk)
Best Country Recording
A Miner’s Prayer – Matt James (Ojibway)
How I Am – Koli Kohler (Hoopa, Yuroh, Karuh)
K Town – D Johnson (Navajo)
What Do I Got To Do – Desja Eagle Tail (Crow/N.Cheyenne/Seneca/Cree)
Red Dirt Remark – Tonemah (Lumbee)
Way Out West – Marty Stuart (Choctaw)
Best Folk Recording
Are We Free? – Burton Guibord (Bad River Ojibwe)
Life Blanket – Bear Fox (Mohawk)
Makhohe Kiy Tuehila – Alex FireThunder (Oglala Lakota)
Nature Walk – Joan Hammel, Tim Brooks (Colville)
The Kindness Project – Stl’atl’imx & Friends (St’at’imc)
Two Trees Standing – Atlatl (Cherokee)
Best Gospel/Inspirational/Native American Church Recording
Azee Diyin – Anthony Benally (Navajo)
Butterflies, Horses and Guitars – Murphy Platero (Navajo)
Continuation Songs – Martinez Lee Sr (Navajo)
Night Side – Louie Gonnie (Navajo/Zuni)
No Greater Love – Robby Cummings (Lumbee/Cherokee)
Remedy – Quinton Gonnie (Navajo)
Best Historical/Linguistic/Spoken Word Recording
Ancestors – The Spiritual Warriors (Interior Salish Lil’wat)
Makȟóčhe Kiŋ Theȟíla (Love For The Land) – Alex FireThunder (Oglala Lakota)
Songz – Thoz Womenz (Intertribal)
The Kindness Project – Stl’atl’imx Friends (Stl’atl’imx)
Wakan Olowan: Lakota Pipe Pipe Ceremonial & Spiritual Songs- Calvin J. Standing Bear (Sicungu, Oglala)
Wisdomkeepers Radio – Harvey Arden & Wisdomkeepers Radio band (Cherokee)
Best Instrumental Recording
A Distant Star – Vince Redhouse (Navajo)
Journey of the Heart – Wade Fernandez (Menominee)
Naomi’s Dance – Larry Redhouse Quartet (Navajo)
Native American Flute Music – Randy Granger (Mayan/Apache)
The Great Mystery – Larry Redhouse (Navajo)
Watopeka…la premiere ascension – Patrick Therrien (Alliance de Sherbrooke 081Kitne, Anishinaabe, Metis)
We Belong To The Music – Crazy Flute (Cherokee)
Best New Age/Ambient/Soundscape Recording
Colors of the Rainbow – Alexandro Querevalú (Quechua)
Eagle Dances With The Wind – Calvin J. Standing Bear & James Torres Red Tail Chasing Hawks (Sicungu, Oglala)
In the Spirit of Peace – Dail Dragonfly Martin (Huron, Wyandott, MicMac)
One Earth World Fusion – Various Artists
Parallel Universe – Joseph FireCrow ( Northern Cheyenne), Thomasina Levy, David Darling
Sacred Spiral – Painted Raven (Cherokee/Sioux)
Woodland Moons -Marcia Watson Bendo (Citizen Potawatomi)
Best Pop Recording
Asalia Keeper of the Stars – Asalia (Lac Vieux Desert Ojibwa)
Awake – Wildcat Peak (Navajo)
Live From White Horse Black Mountain – The Cody Blackbird Band and Connor Chee (Dakota, Cherokee, Navajo)
On The Rocks – Shon Denay (Oglala Lakota)
Poets Ocean – Blanca Iris Acuna (Taino)
Women At War: Warrior Songs – Various Artists
Best Pow Wow/ Drum Recording
Love, Life, Round Dance – Young Spirit (Cree/Various)
Medicine Horse – Cree Confederation (Cree/Various)
Nitisanak: Brothers and Sister – Northern Cree (Cree/Various)
Red Dress Special – Young Spirit (Plains Cree/Various)
Songs – Thoz Womenz (Intertribal)
When It’s Cold – Northern Cree (Cree/Various)
Best Producer/Engineer
Chris Colvin, Seth Donaldson, Ben Gordon – Wisdomkeepers Radio
Ed Stasium – Fight Like A Woman – Sihasin
Kelly Parker – One Earth World Fusion Music – Various Artists
Patrick Therrien & Yves Casteau – Watopeka
Robert Doyle – Second Night: El Capitan – Todi Neesh Zhee (Navajo/Dine)
Stephen Butler – Nitisnak: Brothers and Sister – Northern Cree
Best Rap/Hip Hop/R&B Recording
Dream Trails – Def-i (Navajo)
Eclectic -G Precious (Ohkay Owingeh)
If I Won The Lottery – David Lopezz (Comanche/Tarahumara)
Native Pride – Nick Lone (Seneca)
On My Way – Crimespree (Rosebud)
SaVivor – Night Shield (Rosebud)
Best Rock Recording
Chris Ferree – Chris Ferree & Medicine Crow (Eastern Band of Cherokee)
Fight Like A Woman – Sihasin (Navajo)
Infinite Web – Jiiniikwe Medicine Bird (Bay Mills Anishinabe, Hunkpapa Lakota)
Labyrinth – Katsuk (Chickasaw)
Sisters & Brothers – Irv Lyons Jr (Oneida Wolf Clan)
The Ghost Dance – War Bonnet (Ojibwe)
Best Traditional Recording
Journey Into A New Direction – Joe Tohonnie, Jr (Apache)
Life On The Rez – Herman Cody (Navajo)
Ongtupqa – Clark Tenakhongva, Gary Stroutsos, Matthew Nelson (Hopi)
Second Night: El Capitan – Todi Neesh Zhee (Navajo/Dine)
Tradition – Spirit of Thunderheart (Schaghticoke, Metis)
Wakan Olowan Pipe Ceremonial Songs – Calvin J. Standing Bear (Sicungu, Oglala)
Best Waila/Chicken Scratch/ Recording
307th Ave & C Street – Famous Ones (Tohono O’odham)
Fami:lia – Stevie Ray Vavages (Tohono O’odham)
Music and Prayers …then Now and until we meet Again – Lopez Band (Tohono O’odham)
Music In The Soul – Native Thunder (Tohono O’odham/Salt River Pima)
The Gift – Mariah’s Beats (Tohono O’odham)
The Waila Circle – Native Creed (Tohono O’odham)
Waila – Carl and Buddies (Tohono O’odham)
Best World Recording
Ancestors – The Spiritual Warriors (Interior Salish Lil’wat)
Get To You -Native Nations (Navajo/Australia)
Labyrinth – Ecstasy – KatsuK (Chickasaw)
One Earth World Fusion Music – Various Artists
Verde – Innastate (Jicarilla Apache/Jemez Pueblo/Santa Domingo Pueblo/Isleta Pueblo)
Watopeka…la premiere ascension -Patrick Therrien (Alliance autochtone de Sherbrooke 081Kitne, Anishinaabe, Metis)
Best Music Video Recording
Deep End – Bigg B ft N8 (Warm Springs/Paiute/Wasco)
Directions – Hawane Rios ft Nahko (Kanaka Madi/Apache)
Controlled – Raven Diamond (Aztec, Inca/Mayan)
Deforestation – Tony Enos (Cherokee)
Beautifully – Michelle Thomas (Navajo)
Comeback – Shon Denay (Oglala Lakota)
Best Concept for a Music Video
Ecstasy – KatsuK (Chickasaw) from Labyrinth
Human – Twin Flames (Inuit/Mohawk, Cree/Metis)
I Don’t Give A – Mickie James (Powhatan)
My Heart Dreams – Black Belt Eagle Scout (Swinomish)
Next To You – from A Miner’s Prayer – Matt James (Ojibway)
Undone – Marcia Chum (Cree Constance Lake)
Best Music Video Narrative
Heaven’s Window – Ava Rose Johnson (Osage/Cherokee)
How I Am – Koli Kohler (Hoopa, Yuroh, Karuh)
Missing You – Joanne Shenandoah (Oneida)
Strong Together – Sihasin (Navajo)
Reach Who You Are – Callie Bennett (Navajo)
So What – Love Collide (Chippewas First Nation)
We Are Love – Kelly Derrickson
Best Rap Hip Hop Music Video
Break These Chains – Just Jamez (Colville)
Reckless – Night Shield (Rosebud) featuring Trey Lane, CrimeSpree & Gorilla Pimp
Reachin’, Seekin’ and Dreamin’ – Artson (Tarahumara) featuring Sariyah Idan
Remember Me – Carradine Billie (Seminole)
Stand Up – Blue Flamez (Warm Springs/Nez Perce)
Best Music Video For A Live Performance
A Girl In Trouble – Deborah Iyall (Cowlitz)
Children On The Rez – Blue Mountain Tribe (Chiricahua Apache)
Live At Rockwood Hall – Raye Zaragoza (O’odham)
Live At Sub Cat Studios – The Ripcords (Onondaga)
The Gila Monster – Connor Chee (Navajo)
Yoyqatsi (Rain of Life) -Clark Tenakhongva, Gary Stroutsos, Matthew Nelson (Hopi)
Native Heart Award (Non Native)
Johnny Kee – Echoes From the Trail
Jonny Lipford- Moonsongs
Ken McGarity – Breath of Life
Mikuskovics Baum – Timeless
Peter Phippen – Seven
Wolfsheart – Acoustic Ride
Best Radio Program
Gregg McVIccar – Undercurrents
Harvey Arden & Wisdomkeepers Radio band
KOHN 91.9 FM – Tohono O’odham Nation
Native Circle Show/ David Rose – One World Music Radio
Deer Tracks on 94.7 FM, KGLP Gallup, NM with your host’s Shelley Morningsong & Strider Brown
The Deep End with The Chaz on KBFT Bois Forte Tribal Radio