The Native American Music Awards is the world’s largest awards show dedicated to Native American musicians. The star-studded gala will be filled with a VIP pre-show reception, incredible performances by artists like country singer and WWE superstar, Mickie James, and unforgettable moments as some of today’s most talented indigenous musicians are honored.
The 2018 Native American Music Awards were hosted at the Seneca Niagra Casino on October 12, 2018.
PowWows.com was able to talk with several nominees before the awards show.
Geenow, nominee for “Best Music Video Recording For A Narrative
Buggin Malone, nominee for “Best Rap/Hip Hop” and Best Music Video For A Narrative
Tracey Lee Nelson, winner of “Best Blue Recording” for his song “Blues Loving Man”
Jack Flute Holland and Keith Tally, nominees for “Best Instrumental Recording” and “Best New Age Instrumental Song”
Janel Munoa, nominee for “Best Rock Recording” and “Debut Artist of the Year”
Donna Redfeather and Chrissy O'Donnell, nominees for “Best Folk Recording”
Steven Rushingwind, winner of “Best Instrumental Recording” for his song “Rushingwind”
Carol Markstrom, nominee for “Native Heart”
Jan Michael Looking Wolf, nominee of “Best Artist of the Year,” and Paco Fralick, winner of “Song of the Year”
Dave Thundering Eagle Fallis, nominee for “Best Debut Artist of the Year”
Plamer Tolly & Paul Osborne of “People of the Star Orchestra”, winners of “Best Debut Group of the Year”
Sten Joddi, nominee for “Best Hip Hop Recording” and “Best Music Video”
PJ Vegas, winner of “Best Indie Artist” for his song “Tears”
Kelly Derrickson, winner of “Best Female Artist” for her album “I Am”
Jack Kohler, Executive Director of “On Native Grounds”, a Hoopa tribal non-profit media organization,
Cody Blackbird and Adrian D Thomas of the Cody Blackbird Band, nominees for “Best Rock Recording” and “Best Blues Recording”
Scott Kalama, nominee for “Best Hip Hop Record” and “Best Music Video Concept”
Sandra Sutter, winner of “Best Americana Recording” for her song “Cluster Stars”
Felipe Rose, the Indian from “The Village People” winner of “Best Dance Song” for his song “Going Back To My Roots”
Desja Eagle Tail, winner of “Best Country Recording” for her song “Never Let Me Go”
Artson, winner of “Best Rap Hip Hop Recording” for his song “Brave Star”
2018 Native American Music Award Winners
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Annie Humphrey
The Beast and The Garden
DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Calvin Standing Bear
Fly Eagle Fly
DEBUT GROUP OF THE YEAR
Dreamwalker Suite
People of the Star Orchestra
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Kelly Derrickson
I Am
FLUTIST OF THE YEAR
Pine Ridge Flute Society
Waziahanhan Siyotanka Okolakiciye
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Twin Flames
Signal Fire
BEST MALE ARTIST
Randy Wood
Family
BEST AMERICANA RECORDING
Cluster Stars
Sandra Sutter
BEST BLUES RECORDING
Blues Loving Man
Tracy Lee Nelson
BEST COUNTRY RECORDING
Never Let Me Go
Desja Eagle Tail
BEST FOLK RECORDING
Signal Fire
Twin Flames
BEST NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH RECORDING
Songs of the Native American Church from Oklahoma Vol 5
Oliver Littlecook, O.J. Littlecook, Kyle Robedeaux
BEST HISTORICAL LINGUISTIC RECORDING
Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa
Jeremy Dutcher
BEST SPOKEN WORD RECORDING
Fires of Thunder
Thana Redhawk
BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING
Rushingwind
Steven Rushingwind
BEST POP RECORDING
Safe in the Arms of Time
Rita Coolidge
BEST POW WOW RECORDING
The Journey
Stoney Park
BEST RAP HIP HOP RECORDING
Brave Star
Artson
BEST ROCK RECORDING
Something Inside Is Broken
Native American Rock Opera
Various Artists
BEST TRADITIONAL RECORDING
Sweat Lodge Songs
Craig Elkshoulder
BEST WAILA RECORDING
All For You
O’odham Nights
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Don’t Let The Drums Go Silent
Saginaw Grant
SONG OF THE YEAR
Women and Water
Paco Fralick and Michael Bucher
BEST SINGLE RECORDING
Left Right Left
Mickie James
BEST DANCE SONG
Going Back To My Roots
Felipe Rose
BEST NEW AGE INSTRUMENTAL SONG
Beginnings
Connor Chee
BEST MUSIC VIDEO CONCEPT
Sky World
Supaman, Bear Fox, Teio Swathe
BEST MUSIC VIDEO NARRATIVE
Lakota WIll Live
Terrance. Jade
BEST MUSIC VIDEO PERFORMANCE
Through the Flood
Indian City
NATIVE HEART
Alexander Van Bubenheim
Don't Let The Drums Go Silent
BEST NATIONAL RADIO PROGRAM
Pow Wow Radio
Pow Wows.com
BEST INDIE ARTIST
P.J. Vegas
Tears
COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
Tonia Jo Hall
HALL OF FAME
JESSE ED DAVIS
