Eleventh Annual Native American Music Awards Winners Announced

On Saturday October 3, 2009 the Eleventh Annual Native American Music Awards (N.A.M.A.) was held at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino in Niagara Falls in front of a packed house that featured consistently outstanding live music performances along with an emotionally charged Hall of Fame induction in honor of the late Ritchie Valenz.
 
 Taking this year's top honors are; Joanne Shenandoah & Michael Bucher's Bitter Tears Sacred Ground for Best Compilation, Jana Mashonee's rendition of Sam Cooke's, A Change Is Gonna Come with Derek Miller for Song/Single of the Year, Jan Michael Looking Wolf for Artist of the Year, Skylar Wolf for Debut Artist of the Year, Will and Lil Jess for Debut Duo/Group of the Year, Kevin Locke's Earth Gift for Record of the Year, and American Idol Semi-finalist Charly Lowry for Best Video for her long form video featuring her song, Movin On.

Hosted by actor Gil Birmingham, others on hand at the Awards ceremony included: Shane Yellowbird who won for Best Country Recording, Atsiaktonkie who won for Best Folk Recording, Flutist of the Year JJ Kent, Wind Spirit Drum whose recording Amazing Grace took Best Gospel Inspirational Recording, Thunder Hawk Singers for Best Historical Recording, Gabriel Ayala for Best Instrumental Recording, Bryan Akipa For Best Male Artist, Eagle & Hawk for Best Rock Recording, Rezhogs for Best Rap Hip Hop Recording, Oshkii Giizhik Singers for Best Traditional Recording, Michael Searching Bear for Best World Music Recording, and Michael Brant DeMaria for the Native Heart Award.
 
 Other nominees in attendance included; Benjamin Grimes, Kelly Montijo Fink, Jackie Tice, Mike Serna, Pappy Johns Band, Jimmy Shendo, Augusta Cecconi Bates, Douglas Blue Feather, Yvonne St Germaine and Donna Kay who all participated in the program.
 
Capping the evening’s ceremonies were consistently transcendent and flawless performances beginning with drum group Young Gunz, Dallas Washkahat and Fawn Wood, classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala, Eagle & Hawk, soprano opera singer Jennifer M Stevens accompanied by composer Augusta Cecconi-Bates, Joanne Shenandoah and Michael Bucher who performed material from their award-winning recording, Lifetime Achievement Recipient Stevie Salas pumped it up with original Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzesse and bass player TM Stevens of Shocka Zooloo and the late James Brown, and a spectacular rendition of Stevie Ray Vaughn's Pride & Joy by the show's host Gil Birmingham and nominee Jimmy Wolf. Darryl Tonemah gave a rising performance in his trademarked bare feet, Jana's riveting vocals were unmatched, Shane Yellowbird showcased material for his upcoming Grand Ole Opry appearance, and new artist Jace Martin captured the audience with his Ritchie Valens tribute song, We Belong Together.
 
 Tommy Allsup, original guitarist of the Buddy Holly band who flipped a coin with Ritchie Valens for the last seat on their ill-fated plane, bought the audience to tears as Allsup, who became emotional and choked up as he recapped and retold the story of his tour mate Ritchie Valens and his tragic end.
 
 Following the Hall of Fame induction and Ritchie's sister, Irma's acceptance speech, Tommy Allsup, who is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, joined Ritchie's little brother, Mario, and his group, The Backyard Blues Band, who rocked the house and performed a special extended rendition of “La Bamba”.
 
 Complete list of winners:
 
 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
 Jan Michael Looking Wolf, The Looking Wolf Project
 
 
 BEST BLUES RECORDING
 Dancing In The Rain - Graywolf Blues Band
 
 
 BEST COMPILATION RECORDING
 Bitter Tears-Sacred Ground - Joanne Shenandoah & Michael Bucher
 
 
 BEST COUNTRY RECORDING
 Life Is Calling My Name - Shane Yellowbird
 
 
 DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
 Skylar Wolf - Devil’s Son
 
 
 DEBUT DUO / GROUP OF THE YEAR
 Will & Lil Jess - Reservation Nights
 
 
 BEST FEMALE ARTIST
 Joy Harjo - Winding Through the Milky Way
 
 
 BEST FOLK RECORDING
 Four Wolves Prophecy - Atsiaktonkie
 
 
 FLUTIST OF THE YEAR
 JJ Kent - Ta Te’ Topa Win
 
 
 BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL RECORDING
 Amazing Grace
 Lenape Spirits
 Wind Spirit Drum
 
 
 GROUP OF THE YEAR
 Brule’ - Lakota Piano II
 
 
 BEST HISTORICAL RECORDING
 Native Pride - Thunder Hawk Singers
 
 
 BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING
 Tango! - Gabriel Ayala
 
 
 BEST MALE ARTIST
 Bryan Akipa - Songs From the Black Hills
 
 
 BEST NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH RECORDING
 Peyote Ways - Primeaux & Mike
 
 
 BEST NEW AGE RECORDING
 Deep Within - Tony Redhouse
 
 
 BEST POP RECORDING
 Na Unu Nahai (Shape Shifter) - Apryl Allen
 
 
 BEST POW WOW RECORDING
 Band of Brothers - Midnite Express
 
 BEST PRODUCER
 Kelly Parker - Out Of The Blue
 
 
 BEST RAP / HIP HOP RECORDING
 All Day All Night - Rezhogs
 
 
 RECORD OF THE YEAR
 Earth Gift - Kevin Locke
 
 
 BEST ROCK RECORDING
 Sirensong - Eagle & Hawk
 
 
 SONG/SINGLE OF THE YEAR
 A Change Is Gonna Come - Jana Mashonee
 
 
 SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
 Samantha Crain - The Confiscation: A Musical Novella
 
 
 BEST SPOKEN WORD RECORDING
 The Great Story from the Sacred Book - Rain Song/Terry & Darlene Wildman
 
 
 BEST TRADITIONAL RECORDING
 It Is A New Day - Oshkii Giizhik Singers
 
 
 BEST VIDEO
 Movin On - Charly Lowry & Aaron Locklear
 
 
 BEST WORLD MUSIC RECORDING
 Ceremony - Michael Searching Bear
 
 
 NATIVE HEART
 Michael Brant DeMaria - Siyotanka
 
 
 LIVING LEGEND
 Tommy Allsup
 
 
 HALL OF FAME
 Ritchie Valens