Culture Exchange Highlight
It’s All About the Music
The envelope was opened and Bill Miller (Mohican) took home the Grammy Award for the Best Native American Music Album for Cedar Dream Songs. Read about Bill and the other nominees.

In 2001, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences broke new ground when it created a category for Best Native American Music Album in the GRAMMY Awards. Now, for the 5th year in a row, a group of outstanding Native musicians has been nominated for the award.

Black Eagle for “Straight Up Northern”

This group, from Pueblo of Jemez in New Mexico was formed in 1989 after a family trip to Lame Deer, Montana . While on the trip, a family friend explained the Pow Wow world to Malcom Yepa, founding member of the group. Yepa gathered a group of family members to form a drum group. Black Eagle has come a long way in 16 years, winning GRAMMY awards in 2003 and 2004.

Black Lodge Singers for “Family Traditions”

The Black Lodge Singers are from White Swan, Washington and are a popular Pow Wow group. Headed by Kenny Scabby Robe of the Blackfeet Tribe, most of the Singers are his sons. The group performs as a host drum around the U.S. and Canada and has released 20 albums.

Bill Miller for “Cedar Dream Songs”

Bill Miller, a Mohican from northern Wisconsin is a recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, and painter. The son of Mohican-German parents, he learned traditional songs at an early age. He is a master Native American flute player, as reflected in his Indian name “Fush-Ya Heay Ka” which means “Bird Song.” His most celebrated album, “Ghost Dance,” took home five NAMMY’s in 2000.

Joanne Shenandoah for “Covenant”

Joanne Shenandoah is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Iroquois Confederacy-Oneida Nation. Composer, vocalist, and performer she is known for blending ancient songs of the Iroquois with traditional and contemporary sounds. She has won two NAMMY’s, and has performed at the White House, the Vice President’s House, Woodstock 1994, Special Olympics, the 1996 Olympics, and at three Presidential Inaugurations.

Mary Youngblood for “Feed the Fire”

Half Aleut and half Seminole, Mary Youngblood was the first Native American female to professionally record the Native flute. Mary was involved in music from a young age, learning piano, violin, classical flute, and guitar as a child. Although Mary did not receive her first wooden Native flute until adulthood, she now has a collection of over 125. Mary received NAMMY awards in 1999 and 2000.