The winners of the 12th Annual Native American Music Awards were announced on Friday, November 12, 2010. The event took place at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino, in Niagara Falls, New York.

The Native American Music Awards, also known as Nammys, celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the American Indian nations.

Artist of the Year
Joseph FireCrow – Face The Music

Record of the Year
Breakin’ Free by Jan Michael Looking Wolf Band

Best Traditional Recording
Rebuilding The Fire by Bo Taylor

Best Pow Wow Recording
Boys Will Be Boyz by The Boyz

Best Waila Recording
Get’n Down by Native Thunder

Best World Music Recording
Remembrance by Gabriel Ayala

Debut Artist of the Year
Victoria Blackie – Wanted Man

Debut Duo or Group of the Year
Dark Water Rising – Dark Water Rising

Best Female Artist
Tinesha Begaye – Horses Are Our Journey

Best Folk Recording
Michael Bucher – Believe

Flutist of the Year
Joseph FireCrow – Face the Music

Group of the Year
Bluedog – Get Up & Get Out

Best Instrumental Recording
Hitchin’ A Ride by Nokie Edwards

Best Male Artist
Jay Begaye – Horses Are Our Journey

Best Native American Church Recording
Dakota Lakota Traditional Church Songs – Sacred Harmonies

Best New Age Recording
Sheila Applegate & Joanne Shenandoah – Enchanted Garden

Best Blues Recording
If That’s All Right With You by Twice As Good

Best Compilation Recording
Walking With the Spirits by Randy McGinnis

Best Pop Recording
We Are by Digging Roots

Best Producer
Frank Waln for Always Ready

Best Rock Recording
Segweh by Segweh

Song/Single Of The Year
“Grandfather” by Windwalker/Wind Spirit Drum

Songwriter Of The Year
Brad Clonch & Jeff Carpenter – Fight For Survival

Best Spoken Word Recording
Stories From The Social Fire by The Story Tellers

Best Music Video
Sacred Warrior by Tom Bee

Native Heart
Tribal Vision by Big City Indians

Best Country Recording
It’s About Time by Shane Yellowbird

Best Gospel/Inspirational Recording
Sacred Fire by Sayani

Best Rap / Hip Hop Recording
Tribal Tribulations by Chase Monchamp/Chase Manhattan

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Having a lifetime of experience as a musician, I extend to you an upcoming series of articles on the power of music and the Native American Flute. I will describe the short version of my musical path toward healing. First let me ask: What has heart and meaning for you? What touches you most deeply? For many of us, music might have something to do with that.

Music is one of the ways in which we say: “I am alive, and my life has meaning.” Karl Paulnack

Music is in us and waiting to be expressed. Every cell vibrates, grows and evolves with sound. The rhythms of our heart, our breath and entire being is harmonized through the power of music. It is one of the purest expressions of Spirit into Form.

The musician is more of a therapist of the soul than an entertainer. Music is more than just a product or thing to be bought and sold like a used car. It is a rescue mission of mercy to bring our insides back into harmony. Music expresses our deepest feelings. It lifts us up and out of our pain and into the river of grace. It is the companion of bliss and grief.

In the darkest hours of our human history the most moving and profound music has arisen. One of the first organized events after 9/11 in New York City was the Brahms Requiem at the Lincoln Center with the N.Y. Philharmonic.

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” Aldous Huxley

However…many of us have some musical wounds. I hit a wall on my musical journey in 1980. I was a career musician for many years. Playing the same songs and musical style every night no longer inspired me. I felt a need for a new form of expression and I didn’t know what creative direction to take. Then came nodules on my vocal cords which put an abrupt end to my singing career.

This loss initiated a nine year path of becoming a Holistic Health Practitioner and Teacher. While studying the healing modalities of indigenous peoples I discovered the Native American Flute, drums and rattles. This was the new form of musical expression I was looking for 9 years earlier! I recovered my musical inspiration through these primal, ancient instruments.

I’ve met many people who have some musical bumps and bruises. For instance: Some of you will recall those traumatic, forced music lessons. Or maybe you played an instrument and were told you weren’t “talented”. So you gave up, never to try again. Does your inner critic beat you down, comparing yourself with the “pros”?

Well, the good news is that we are the vessel and conduit that contains the Music of Life itself ! Remember, we are the Music. So…how do we heal the split from our Musical Essence?

I have known so many people reconnect and find their inspiration through the Native American Flute. In a complex world, its simplicity, ease of playing and heartfelt tones heals us. It calls us back to our nature and to Mother Nature. Through the sacred and intimate act of breath and emotion, we express ourselves in waves of vibrant creation.

“I am a Flute that Spirit’s breath moves through…listen to this Music” Hafiz

More important than how “good” you are is to ENJOY the act of playing. Through play, we open the doorway to our own creativity and spirit. Thank you, for reading the “Native American Flute – the Wounded Musician and the River of Grace.”

On my website, you’ll find flutes and music from my studio. http://www.deruby.com

Stephen Has been a flute maker since 1989. He has devoted his life to Music, Crafts and Healing for Spiritual Expression, Service and Right Livelihood.

Mayan Warrior Dance Song

(Maya)
Conex, conex palanxen, xicubin, xicubin yocolquin.
Conex, conex palanxen, xicubin, xicubin yocolquin.
Xola mayola, xola mayol, ea, ea, ea, o.
Conex, conex palanxen, xicubin, xicubin yocolquin.Which translates to:Song to the Sun
Mayan Warrior Dance Song

(English)
Let’s go, let’s hurry boys, for the sun is coming out.
Let’s go, let’s hurry boys, for the sun is coming out.
Sho-la ma-yo-la, sho-la ma-yol, Ay-ah, ay-ah, ay-ah oh.*
Let’s go, let’s hurry boys, for the sun is coming out.

*This is phonetically how to say this line.

Comment:  Xtoles could be a couple thousand years old, so I presume it qualifies as the oldest known Native song.

P.S. I don’t think it’s grammatically correct to put the Spanish word Los in front of the Maya word Xtoles. Especially since Xtoles doesn’t appear to be a plural word.

For more on the subject, see Natives Sing It Their Way.

This post is brought to you courtesy of the author and TribalBiz.com.

Native American flutes are enjoyed and played in many cultures around the world. I have always loved Native flute music for its beautiful sound quality and ability to bring a tranquil calm to the ambiance where it is played. Hearing Native flutes always bring back memories of my mother’s kitchen where she often played flute music to create a tranquil environment in her home. The soothing flute music cures the soul and creates a calming affect on the spirit of all who hear it.

If you look at the history of Indian instruments, you will realize that like the drum, the flute plays a meaningful role in the daily lives, ceremonies and rituals of many American Indian people. Native American flute music takes you to a place where descendants look to their forefathers to guide them, and use their instruments to unite them with the Great Spirit.

Flutes in one form or another have been around for centuries and have been part of many tribal cultures around the world. The reflection of flute instruments in the past shows us that they did exist in ancient Tribes. The origin and design of the Native American flute is a little more complicated to figure out due to the fact that there were no written languages among North American Tribes at that time. It wasn’t until explorers documented their travels and findings, that record of the Native American flute is found in history.

You can’t take in the true value of Native flute music until you learn that society came close to obliterating this amazing art with strict assimilation rules. The 1900′s brought with it harsh rules for Native Americans that almost succeeded to forever silence their culture and people. Along with many other Indigenous traditions, these rules stopped the development of Native flute music. It wasn’t until the middle of the century that assimilation laws started to alleviate and Native traditions were able to be practiced within the Tribe and out in the open once again. Over the years, the prestige of the Native American flute grew to the point that flute makers began generating these instruments in large numbers to sell, and not just for personal playing purposes. The materials used to make the flutes also turned from undeveloped crude instruments to more improved, with the use of power tools and the ability to obtain different kinds of woods, plastics and metals.

Now days, there are a variety of choices available when choosing a Native style flute, and it is just a matter of personal preference. There are some recommendations you should follow when buying an instrument. There are numerous types of flutes, but all have one of two different sound qualities. The sound style of the flute is based on whether it is a Plains style or a Woodlands style. A Plains style flute produces a buzzing type sound while a Woodlands style will produce a bell tone. No matter which type of flute you buy, it is a good idea to check the characteristics of each individual instrument, including the mouthpiece, size, shape and number of holes, in order to choose one that you like. Native American flutes also come in different kinds of woods ranging from exquisite, rather expensive woods, to simple pieces of pine, cane or bamboo.

Due to the popular interest in flute music, you can now buy Native American flutes online, in various music stores, and in specialty shops that sell Indian musical instruments and western style home decorating accessories. If you are looking for an easy instrument for playing or decorative purposes, or are searching for real Indian musical instruments to use in Native ceremonies and events, consider keeping the culture and instruments of Indian people alive with the peaceful tones of Native American flutes.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing Native American flutes for various playing purposes. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Native American flutes are definitely one of the most magical of instruments. Music played on a Native six hole flute has a way of captivating people. They can calm your spirit.

If you are familiar with flute music you must appreciate it too. If you are new to flutes, or searching for a flute for yourself or as a gift for someone special, I hope the following facts and tips will help you if you choose to buy a Native American flute online.

1. One of the exciting things about Native American flutes is that just anyone can learn to play them. They are very basic. The flute is simple, unlike some Native instruments requiring great skill. It can be enjoyed by young people and older folks alike.

2. A Native American flute can be made using expensive exotic woods or from something reasonably common like cane or bamboo. One of the more common flutes is made using pine. The most popular has to be a cedar flute. The most important thing to keep in mind is the care given to quality and detail. If you are thinking about purchasing a flute for as a gift or for yourself, you will be very happy with the sound quality of both of these types of handcrafted flutes.

3. Native American flutes are used in many cultures around the world. You too will also like Native flute music for its soft and peaceful tone. You can use a flute to bring a peaceful calm to the ambiance anywhere it is played. If you are a beginner, make sure to get a lesson book with a CD to play at home. Always make sure the flute you are considering is tuned. The keys of A minor and F sharp are a very good for beginners.

4. Flute music revives the hearer. If you look into the background of Indian instruments, you will find that flutes were important just like the drum. The flute plays a very important part in the daily aspects of their lives. The flute affects the festivals and traditions of many Indigenous Tribes. Native American flute music can be used for prayer, meditation and relaxation.

5. Flutes in one form or another have existed for centuries and have been part of many Tribes around the world. As we look into the the culture of flutes we see that they were used in ancient Tribes. The birth place of the first Native American flute is not very easy to set. The reason is really a very basic one, the North American Tribes didn’t have a way to keep records because they didn’t have a written language. However, when European explorers documented their expeditions, they reported seeing the Native American flute.

6. You appreciate more the wonderful value of Native flute music when you realize that it was almost lost. The twentieth century brought tough assimilation rules for many Native Americans that very nearly destroyed their culture. It wasn’t until the mid-1900′s that Federal laws in the U.S. began to change and Native people were able to publicly practice their customs again.

7. The popularity of the Native American flute jumped so much that flute makers started making the instruments in large quantities for sell. The materials of choice that they used for making flutes changed from primitive to extravagant. The advent of modern electric tools and more availability of different types of woods, plastics and metals caused a great difference. Now days we are able to find many different choices for a Native style flute.

8. There are a few key points to keep in mind though when you are purchasing a Native style flute. There are many different types of flutes. But, they all fit into a couple of categories. The sound depends on whether it is a Plains style or a Woodlands style. A Plains style flute sounds like it has a buzzing type of sound. The Woodlands style flute produces more of a bell tone. Native American flutes are also fashioned from a variety of woods including inexpensive pine, mellow cedar or expensive exotic woods.

9. Given the widespread appeal of flute music, you can easily buy Native American flutes online. You can also check out different music centers, or specialty stores. Many places that offer American Indian handcrafts and southwestern home decorating accents also carry them.

If you want to find an easy instrument to learn to play, you should give a flute a try. Or, if you want an authentic musical instrument that would be good for use in Native ceremonies, the flute would be perfect. Whatever your reason is, you can keep the rich heritage and music of Indigenous people alive with Native American flutes.

Craig Chambers is the founder of Mission Del Rey Southwest, offering unique hand crafted Native American flute music. Visit his website and get his popular free ebook. http://www.missiondelrey.com

When it comes to Native American hoop drums, there are many different types and styles available. Different Native Americans made different types of drums and for different purposes. Most often the drums were used in ceremonies and rituals or celebrations of some type. Rawhide drums were very common in most Native American cultures and used in many different types of hand drums.  Each of these types of Native American drums is beautiful in its own way and serves an important purpose within the families and tribes, but in general it is the hoop drum that is common to all.  The wonder and beauty of Native American hoop drums is not only reserved for Native Americans today, as they are sharing their work with other people of the world. Some of the most famous hoop drums are Tarahumara Indian drums.  Their drum festivals draw people from around the world.

What are Hoop Drums?  Native American hoop drums are sometimes called frame drums and throughout Native American history have been a traditional style hand drum. They are often used in ceremonies and celebrations as well as for meditation or medicine with most Native Americans. In modern society, they are used to teach people about the American Indian culture and often even used as decoration. In some cases, the drums are even used for art projects because the rawhide makes a great canvas for painting and decoration.  In the history of Native Americans, drums just like the hoop drum were used for many different things. They were an essential part of the Native American culture and way of life and still remain so today. There are many spiritual, emotional and health-related benefits to drumming and hoop drums are a great way to achieve this.

How are Hoop Drums Made?  Native American drums are all exquisitely hand made by the tribes that create them, each drum is unique.  Tarahumara hoop drums are made by bending a piece of yellow pine into a hoop and rawhide is stretched and laced for heads.  A handle is made from rawhide lacing and the drum is played by holding it vertically and tapping or “drumming” the sides.  Hoop drums come in many different sizes but the standards are usually from 7” to 28” with 16” to 24” being the most popular among Native American hand drums.

The Heritage of Hoop Drums.  Music is a very important part of the Native American culture. Drums were often used as well as flutes. Mothers would use flute music to soothe their babies and drums were used in many different ways for entertainment, spiritual growth and ceremonies as well as to increase and maintain health. Hoop drums are a fantastic piece of Native American history that people of all ages can enjoy.

Craig Chambers is an expert on Native American drums who has written numerous articles and built a website filled with information about various types of Native drums and drum ceremonies, particularly by the Tarahumara Indians, visit http://www.missiondelrey.com/native-american-drums.html for more information.

By Juley Harvey Trail-Gazette

Red Feather Woman, along with her veteran musician/producer husband, Doug Haywood, who has toured with Jackson Browne, told the Christmas story in song and words of the traveling warrior, Starman. He traveled “to find the medicine of old–this is how the story is told.”

Starman learned from an elder how to travel to different parts of the world by astral projection. He gathered herbs needed for healing in the villages. One night in winter, he saw the brightest star he’d ever seen.

“It seemed to glow brighter and brighter. Giant beams engulfed him,” Red Feather Woman said.

He knew he was going on a journey and he was instantly in the desert. He followed a road into a strange village with square houses. The people wore long, flowing garments and the men had hair all over their faces. Starman sensed something was happening, but didn’t know what. He was drawn to the back of a peaceful crowd, where a “beautiful woman held a little baby in her arms. There was a glow around the mother and the child.” Starman remembered a story about when special children and chiefs are born–they have a glow.

Before he left on his journey, he had found an eagle feather, which he placed in his belt. When he noticed people were presenting gifts to the child, he took out his eagle feather and laid it before the infant. It was a simple gift among the gold and incense, but Starman knew the power of the eagle feather. It was the most important gift he could give. The mother looked at Starman and smiled. She knew it was a special gift.Comment:  Nice story. It would make a great children’s book, comic book, cartoon, or video.

Without invalidating anything in the Bible, it adds a multicultural layer of complexity. Between the scenes of the Nativity story, a Native mystic leaves baby Jesus a gift.

This implies that Native religions recognize the holiness of Jesus, and that God recognizes Natives as part of his creation. Thus, any Christians who go killing or conquering indigenous people are even more clearly in the wrong.

This post is brought to you courtesy of the author and TribalBiz.com.