JUNE 26, 2006 NEWS FROM INDIAN COUNTRY: The Independent Native Journal PAGE 17 2006 Native American Music Award Winners Artist of the Year Best Historical Recording Keith Secola The Soundtrack of a People Native Americana Various Artists Best Blues/Jazz Recording Best Instrumental Recording And So Is Love Arvel Bird Live Rita Coolidge Arvel Bird Best Compilation Recording Best Male Artist (l-r) Bill Miller, Wade & Paula Fernandez hanging back stage after the The Collection Wade Fernandez show. Photo by Kimberlie Hall Brulé Song of the Black Wolf Song/Single of the Year Best World Music Recording Debut Artist of the Year Best New Age Recording “Sacred Ground” People Of Peace Silverbird Time For Truth Bill Miller R. Carlos Nakai Quartet World Peace Douglas Blue Feather Songwriter of the Year Best Female Artist Best Pop/Rock Recording Native Heart Jim Boyd Pura Fé Mother Earth John Densmore Them Old Guitars Follow Your Heart’s Desire Eagle & Hawk Native Americana Best Spoken Word Recording Best Folk/Country Recording Best Pow Wow Recording Humanitarian Award The Keepers of the Earth Native Americana Straight Up Northern Harold Owens Red Feather Woman Keith Secola Black Eagle MusiCares Flutist of the Year Best Producer Best Traditional Recording Lifetime Achievement Joseph Fire Crow Stephan Galfas & Alex Salzman Way of Life Tiger Tiger Lakota Thunder Red Beads American Indian Christmas Hall Of Fame Best Short or Long Form Video Gospel /Christian/ Best R&B/Rap/Hip Hop Recording Link Wray In This World Spirit World Inspirational Recording Medicine Dream I’ll Run To You Buggin Malone Marlena Record of the Year Group of the Year Flash Of A Firefly AIRO Jana Tatanka NAMMY VIP Party by Kimberlie R. Hall Hollywood, Florida (NFIC) his year’s NAMA VIP Party was just a jammin’. Held at Paradise just a stroll Tdown from the Hard Rock Live, winners and nominees jammed together into the early morning. John Trudell gets up and performs at the When I first arrived at Paradise, nominee VIP jam with Micki Free and Keith Secola. for Best Blues Recording and Debut Photo by Kimberlie Hall Artist/Group of the Year, BlueDog from Blues... and mannn... could Joni, the lead Minneapolis, MN, was belting out the vocalist sing... wow what a voice... okay, that is all I’m gonna say on that note. I tell ya, what a party, definately an evening to remember. How cool to see the likes of Wade Fernandez, Paul LaRoche, Micki Free, Stevie Salas, Chris Webb, Keith Secola, Pura Fé & Soni from Ulali, John Trudell, Jean Beavouir, just to name a few, getting up and bustin’ the move with Buggin Malone, Buddy Big Mountain and Eagle & Hawk. And yeah... there were many more who got up and joined in the fun, I’m sure, but these are the ones I saw and remember as I mingled in and out of the party throughout the evening visiting and taking pictures of everyone jammin’ and relaxing. Free style jammin’ at its best... Native Wade Fernandez jamming with Brulé’s Paul style... yeah, that is how I would describe this year’s NAMMY VIP Party! LaRoche. Photo by Kimberlie Hall.