The Revenant's Arthur Redcloud Receives Honorary Award for Excellence
 

The 17th Annual Native American Music Awards was an evening filled with love and inspiration from some of the biggest celebrities, musicians and actors in the fields of music and entertainment.

 

Highly dynamic and energetic music performances along with encouraging words of inspiration  dominated the evening from; WWE Superstar and SMG Recording artist, Mickie James, Multiple Award winner and The Voice finalist, Josh Halverson, to Nahko Bear who is kicking off his international tour this week, among others. The awards were held on Saturday, October 14th at the Events Center at Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.

Opening the show was the Seneca Nation's traditional female vocal group, Newtown Singers followed by the award winning Powwow drum group, Northern Cree, who gave a powerful vocal and hand drum performance. The group was then joined by DJ Shub and his dubstep influenced dance and electronica which took the entire segment from traditional into the future.  Northern Cree won for Best Powwow Recording and shared their second win with DJ Shub for Best Music Video for the song, "Indomitable' which was presented remotely by MTV's Downtown Julie Brown.

Mickie James was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame, by actor Arthur Redcloud who appeared in the movie, The Revenant, with Leonardo DiCaprio. James told the audience, "You don't come with your destiny....You earn it" as she shared her story of success.  She also won for Single of the Year for "Shooting Blanks" and performed live belting out three powerful songs including her hit song, "Somebody's Gonna Pay." James is up for a WWE Women's title this Sunday on Pay Per View and is working on a new album. Redcloud received an Honorary Award for Excellence for his role in The Revenant.

 

Presenting the Artist of the Year Award was Felipe Rose, original member of the Village People, who was joined by his group from a live remote, and presented Josh Halverson with the award. Halverson, a previous award winner from 2013, acknowledged the awards first supported him before anyone else including The Voice, and encouraged the audience to offer "love first."  Rose hosted the Awards' pre-show Red Carpet event. Halverson also took home Best Folk Recording.
 
Nahko, who gave a stellar and moving solo acoustic performance received Record of the Year for his recording, Hoka which he released with Medicine for the People.  He is about to release a new recording entitled, Nahko, My Name Is Bear on October 20th. 

 

Kelly Derrickson, took the evening's Best Female Artist award and performed two songs including the uplifting "Rise Up".

 

Brothers Lil Mike and Funny Bone who won Group of the Year in 2016 and were contestants on America's Got Talent, gave a special performance which included their hit single, "Do The Rain Dance".  The brothers later joined Lifetime Achievement recipient, Gary Farmer, and the Troublemakers featuring previous award winners, Marc Brown and Derek Miller,  for a closing performance. Former Mrs. Universe, Ashley Callingbull presented Farmer with his award who has over 100 movie and television credits.

 

A special video tribute was held in honor of the late flutist, Joseph Fire Crow.  House band, The Ed Koban band performed flawlessly and provided backing instrumentation for Josh Halverson with special guest Carsen Gray, Kelly Derrickson, as well as Mickie James.

 

Awarded for Debut Artist of the Year, was the incredibly talented, 17-year old Lucas Ciliberti. The drum group, Black Bear Brothers accepted Debut Group of the Year along with twelve young children from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. 

 

Other award winners in attendance include; Artson for Best Music Video Narrative, Conrad Benally for Best Male Artist, James Edmund Greeley for Best Traditional Recording, Jan Michael Looking Wolf for Best Music Video Performance, Randy McGinnis for Flutist of the Year, Sten Joddi for Best Rap Hip Hop Recording, Bearheart Kokopelli who came in from Austria to receive the Native Heart Recording.

 

Over 18,500 individual voters participated in the Award's national voting campaign. The awards were emceed by National Indian Gaming Association's Ernie Stevens Jr. and were broadcast live by WGWE radio and streamed live by Singlefeathermedia.com. Plans for rebroadcasts are underway.

 
The Native American Music Awards proudly congratulates all the Award winners.  Visit www.NAMALIVE.com for a complete list of winners or see below.

 

Artist of the Year

Josh Halverson

“Year of the Thunderbird”

 

New Artist or Debut Artist of the Year

Lucas Ciliberti

“Rainmaker”

 

Debut Duo/Group of the Year

Black Bear Brothers

“Songs from Cheyenne Creek”

 

Best Female Artist

Kelly Derrickson

“I Am”

 

Flutist of the Year  

Randy McGinnis

“The Journey  - hi a vi si i”

 

Duo/Group of the Year

The Cody Blackbird Band

“Live From Chicago”

 

Best Male Artist

Conrad Benally

“Always And Forever”

 

Record of the Year

“Hoka”

Nahko and Medicine For The People 

 

Song of the Year

“Shooting Blanks”

Mickie James

 

Best Music Video -Best Concept

“Indomitable”

DJ Shub  &  Northern Cree Singers

 

Best Music Video -Best Performance

“Ascension”

Jan Michael Looking Wolf Band  

 

Best Music Video- Best Narrative

“Never Give Up”

Artson, Supaman & Quese Imc

 

Native Heart (Non Native)

Bearheart Kokopelli

Bernhard Mikuskovics

“Native Heart”

 

Best Country Recording

“You’ve Got to Go Back the Way That You Came”

Danielle Egnew

 

Best Folk Recording

“Year of the Thunderbird”

Josh Halverson

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Best Gospel/Inspirational

“Awake, Arise and Shine”

Callie Bennett

 

Best Instrumental Recording

“Songs of the Earth”

Vince Redhouse

 

Best Native American Church Recording

“Simplicity”

Cheevers Toppah

 

Best Pop Recording

“Celebration”

Cherokee National Youth Choir

 

Best Pow Wow Recording

“It’s A Cree Thing”

Northern Cree

 

Best Rap/Hip Hop/R&B Recording

“The 7th Generation Prophecy”

Sten Joddi

 

Best Rock / Best Blues Recording

“Take Me Back”

Levi Platero

 

Best Traditional Recording

“Before America”

James Edmund Greeley  

 

Best Waila Recording

“Creed and Culture”

Native Creed

 

Honorary Award of Excellence

Arthur Redcloud

 

Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Farmer

 

Hall of Fame

Mickie James

 

AT THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL AWARDS

Mickie James To Be Inducted Into The N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame

 

 

While growing up in Virginia, Mickie James, was a tomboy who always loved riding horses and the wrestling business. Mickie's strong Powhatan ancestry tracing back to the Mattaponi reservation, is something she has always embraced throughout her career and still remains very proud of. Today,  WWE® Superstar  Mickie James™ or Mickie Laree James is internationally recognized in the world of professional wrestling. She is a six time Women's champion.  As a recording artist, she has released two full length albums and two singles and is widely known in the country music circuit. Her single entitled, "Shooting Blanks" released last November, has been nominated by the Native American Music Awards for Song of the Year. She has also just released a new single, "Get Down" which is currently impacting country radio and can be purchased through iTunes, Amazon and other online digital retailers.

 

"Devoted to bringing Indigenous music to the world's consciousness" as credited by the New York Times, and cited as being "The Awards Show For Native American Entertainment" by Jeopardy TV, the Native American Music Awards is an ultimate celebration of music and entertainment.  It was founded as the world's first and largest national professional membership-based organization for the advancement & recognition of contemporary and traditional music initiatives by artists with Native American heritage.

The 17th Annual Native American Music Awards is hosted by the Seneca Nation of Indians (one of the six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy) and will be held at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York on October 14th in the Seneca Events Center.  Doors open at 7:00PM EST. The Awards ceremony will be preceded by a free Pre-Show Red Carpet Event on the Mezzanine starting at 6:00PM open to nominees, patrons, and the general public and will feature meet and greets with the evening's featured entertainers & performers and live music performances by Seneca Nation bands; JJ White and Red Rhythm..

 

Tickets for the 17th Annual Native American Music Awards start at $15.00 and are available through Ticketmaster  or by visiting the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino box office which is located at 310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303  (877) 873-6322.

Voting for the Native American Music Awards is open to the general public. Music tracks from all the nominees  are featured on the audio players on www.NAMALIVE.com. Anyone can vote by visiting the Awards website VOTING page, or by clicking here.   

A live webcast of the event will be available at http://www.singlefeathermedia.com/live  

 

ABOUT THE HONOREE  

WWE® Superstar  MICKIE JAMES™ or Mickie Laree James (Powhatan) is internationally recognized in the world of professional wrestling. As a SMG Recording Artist, with two full length albums and two singles to her credit, she is also widely known in the country music circuit. Mickie, who is of Powhatan heritage from her maternal side, grew up in Virginia as a tomboy who loved riding horses, playing violin and dreamed of being in the wrestling ring performing for fans all over the world. By 2002, Mickie's dream was realized when she debuted on the national stage for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) that following year. She made her on screen debut for WWE in 2005 and would go on to win her first Women's Championship at WrestleMania 22 after a very memorable feud with Trish Stratus. She captured the Women's Title five times and the Divas Title once for a total of six championships in the WWE. Mickie had achieved her goals which were to become the first woman to win WWE's Women's & Divas titles as well as TNA's Knockouts Title. Not only did she do just that but she also went on to win TNA's Knockouts Title three times. She has set a precedent and broken many barriers for women in the WWE.

Mickie has always had a passion for music and singing as well. While on the road with WWE, she would travel to Nashville on her days off to meet with producers, songwriters and vocal coaches to pursue her dream of recording a country music album. By the spring of 2010, Mickie released her first album entitled, Strangers and Angels. The first single released off the album was a fast paced, exciting track called "Are You With Me?" and the album featured Mickie's incredible vocal range in her self-assured powerful manner.  In May 2013, Mickie released her second album entitled, Somebody's Gonna Pay through Entertainment One Music which debuted at #15 on Billboard's Heatseekers charts. The album also featured the bonus track, "Hardcore Country," which became Mickie's TNA entrance song.  Mickie also personally penned three of the songs off the album; “Best Damn Night,” “80 Proof” and the cover track, “Somebody's Gonna Pay” in which the music video co-starred fellow professional wrestlers Trish Stratus and Magnus (Mickie's husband Nick Aldis).  Mickie released a new single in November of last year, "Shooting Blanks" which has been nominated by the Native American Music Awards for Song of the Year. She has also just released her second single, "Get Down" which is impacting country radio now and can be purchased through iTunes, Amazon and other online digital retailers.

Mickie's recordings have been embraced by the Country music community and have received positive reviews from publications such as; Country Weekly and CMA Magazine. She has performed in concerts throughout the world and has shared the stage with other country artists such as; Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson and Randy Houser. Mickie has served as an incredible inspiration and role model for many artists as well as Native youth from across the country.  Her world renowned reputation as a WWE Superstar, professional wrestler, country singer and entertainer undoubtedly warrants her place of prominence as an outstanding individual and honoree. The Native American Music Awards & Association is proud to honor Mickie James, and induct her into the N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame.  Mickie will also be performing live at the Awards ceremony.       www.MickieJames.com

 

Special Guests:

ASHLEY CALLINGBULL

Ashley Callingbull, is the 1st First Nations woman to win the Mrs. Universe title. Callingbull is from Alberta's Enoch Cree Nation, west of Edmonton. Callingbull says she was drawn to the Mrs. Universe competition in 2015 because of its domestic violence theme. "I thought, this is a perfect platform for me because I'm relatable to people, I've experienced this myself and I'm able to speak about it," she said. "I'm glad I'm able to use this title as a way to speak for others that can't speak for themselves." Callingbull was chosen as Miss Canada for the Miss Friendship International Pageant held in Hubei, China in September, 2010, and represented Canada at the Queen of the World Final held in Germany 2010. She also represented Canada at Miss Humanity International in Barbados in October 2011. Ashley is also an actress and plays Sheila Delaronde in the series Blackstone.  

 

 

FELIPE ROSE OF THE VILLAGE PEOPLE

Felipe Rose is best known as the "Indian" singer and dancer of Taino and Lakota heritage in the Village People. Originally created by Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo to target disco's gay audience, Felipe was sought as the central member of Village People who quickly became popular and moved into the mainstream. The group scored several disco dance hits internationally, including three hits in the US, "Macho Man, "In the Navy", and their biggest hit, "Y.M.C.A.". Almost five decades later, Felipe and Village People remain a pop culture mainstay in music, sports arenas, commercials and television as they continue to tour the world. “Y.M.C.A” remains the group's biggest hit since it’s release in 1978. The song remains popular and is played throughout the  U.S. and Europe, with crowds using the dance in which the arms are used to spell out the four letters of the song's title. The song is number 7 on VH1's list of The 100 Greatest Dance Songs of the 20th Century. To date, Felipe and the Village People have sold over 100 million records and have won many international music awards and garnered over 30 Platinum and Gold records. Felipe's highest moment of achievement was receiving a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the being inducted into the NAMA Music Hall of Fame. He has also earned a multiple Native American Music Awards for his various solo recordings. In his 40th year in the entertainment industry, Felipe continues to use his influential position to highlight issues that are important to him and maintain his personal objective of helping and connecting with people throughout the world.

 

PERFORMING:

JOSH HALVERSON

AS SEEN ON NBC'S THE VOICE, JOSH HALVERSON  grew up in Texas as the son of a cattle rancher and a Dakota Sioux Indian. He has played piano since the age of five and has grown into an adept songwriter, approaching time-honored topics like heartbreak and devotion with a sense of hard-won innocence. Josh’s  first album, One Shot, earned him the Songwriter of the Year Award at the Native American Music Awards in 2013., Josh has since become a nationally recognized singer and songwriter after appearing on  NBC’s The Voice 2016 Blind Auditions where he performed Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” in front of superstars Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and host Carson Daly. Once Miley, Alicia, and Blake hit their buttons, they all turned around to fight for Halverson. Although Blake brought out his best cattle talk, Halverson chose to join Team Alicia who called Josh’s voice “striking”. Later in the season, Josh was chosen to be on the team of Miley Cyrus. Josh has just released his second recording, Thunder Bird Sky which has earned him four Native American Music Awards nominations. Josh and his wife Rexana are currently expecting their second child.

 

 KELLY DERRICKSON

Kelly first became interested in music during her childhood, which led her to the very prestigious Victoria Conservatory of Music in British Columbia and the Berklee College of Music. Despite her lifelong musical training and deep love for every genre, country music has always held a soft-spot in her heart. Tracing her lineage back to the famous Indian leader Chief Joseph (Nez Perce), it’s no wonder how Kelly can embody everything you’d expect to find in a country artist — she’s strong, intuitive, spiritual, and impassioned. After six terms and 12 years as Chief, Kelly listened and witnessed first hand to her father’s rise from being a poor kid born on the reservation, to a leader who always fought hard for his people’s rights.There is an impassioned fight that is in their blood and in her music. With the release of “Warriors Of Love”, Kelly unleashes her strong vocal prowess and songwriting skills on an album that leaves the listener craving and chanting for more.

 

LIL MIKE & FUNNYBONE

AS SEEN ON NBC'S AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, AKA MIKE BONE made their world debut with an unforgettable performance on NBC’s America's Got Talent program. Members of the Pawnee Tribe, these brothers, though they may look like twins, are not, nor are they midgets at 4 feet 8 inches tall. Mike and Bone have appeared on live television, DJ'd Night Clubs, played gigs throughout the US & Canada and opened for big-name acts such as Billy Ray Cyrus and T-Bone. Like their most popular single, Rain Dance, which wowed the judges of America’s Got Talent, their songs have found radio play on radio stations worldwide. Their full length recording Rain Dance The Album, earned them Group of the Year at last year’s Native American Music Awards. From homelessness to gang violence and discrimination, these two brothers have hustled and flowed their way from nothing to something through their extreme faith in GOD and have credited Christian Music for changing their life.

 

NORTHERN CREE

Also known as the Northern Cree Singers, Northern Cree is a powwow and Round Dance drum and singing group, based in Maskwacis, Alberta  
who have been singing together for more than 20 years. With 37 albums to their credit, the group has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, and have won three Native American Music Awards for Best Pow Wow Recording in 2001 and 2007 and for Best Compilation Recording in 2004. In 2017, the singers, along with founder Steve Wood and Tanya Tagaq, won a Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble for the album Going Home Star. Formed in 1980 by Steve Wood, with brothers Charlie and Earl, the group’s other members include; Ferlin McGillvary, Randy Wood, Joel Wood, as well as Conan Yellowbird. Northern Cree remains one of the most respected pow-wow groups in North America. The group is featured in the song and music video "Indomitable" by DJ Shub, which was nominated for Best EDM/Dance Video in the 2017 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards and the Native American Music Awards. Their new album on Canyon Records entitled, “It’s A Cree Thing,”  has been nominated for Best Pow Wow Recording and earned them a nod for Group of the Year and for Best Music Video.

 

NAHKO 

A a sixth generation Apache and Mohawk with a Puerto Rican Taino mother and a Filipino father, Nahko grew up with the family that adopted him. Nahko and Medicine for the People is an American musical collective formed in 2008. The five member group is headed by frontman Nahko Bear and their music is a fusion of various cultural musical influences.  His creative inspiration is the desire to bridge cultural gaps. Nahko Bear has been musically inclined since the age of six when he started learning piano. As he grew older, Nahko remained tied to music as a piano teacher and casual songwriter. Nahko's songwriting became grassroots oriented around 2012 during which time he would travel around the US by van with his dog.  Nahko and Medicine for the People has toured with Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Xavier Rudd, and SOJA Nahko Bear has also performed duos with Leah Song of Rising Appalachia.  His recording Dark As Night  released in 2013 reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top Alternative Albums chart; and went to  No. 6 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. His recording, Hoka  released last year,  went to No. 72 on the Billboard 200 charts and has earned Nahko and Medicine for the People several nominations at this year’s Native American Music Awards including  Record of the Year.

 

 

DAN GENERAL 

AKA DJ SHUB is a former member of A Tribe Called Red,  a Canadian electronic music group, who blend instrumental hip hop, reggae, moombahton and dubstep-influenced dance music with elements of First Nations music, particularly vocal chanting and drumming.  With Dan, the group won the 2014 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year. A lifelong fan of hip hop, Shub has been a DJ for 15 years, originally inspired by the experience of his older brother, who would cross the border to DJ in Buffalo, New York. Equipped with DJ gear, Shub polished his skills in his parents’ basement, eventually winning the Canadian title at DJ competitions in 2007 and 2008. Family remains a huge part of this Mohawk father’s decision to remain in his hometown of Fort Erie, Ontario today. By combining electronic dance beats with samples of aboriginal singing and drumming, Dan is also credited for the creation of a new sub-genre of electronic music, dubbed ‘powwow step.’ At first, he didn’t want to limit himself to a sound pioneered by his former group but Powwow step is still in its infancy. He now loves the fact that he’s contributing to a whole wave of new contemporary indigenous music by creating his own tracks. DJ Shub along with the drum group Northern Cree have been nominated for Best Music Video for their collaborative effort entitled “Indomitable ft. Northern Cree.”

 

CARSEN GRAY 

Carsen Lee Gray was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and is of First Nations Haida and mixed descent.  Carsen Gray is no stranger to a life of art, music, and entertainment.  Being the oldest daughter of Robert Gray, who played along side Nick Gilder in the band "Sweeney Todd" and niece of Bobby Taylor, most noted for his discovery and mentoring of Michael Jackson - The King of Pop; Carsen comes by her love for music naturally and started performing and recording with her uncle Bobby Taylor at age eleven overseas. Now, Carsen has been living between Saskatoon and Vancouver and working with Independent heavy weight artist Joey Stylez since 2013. Carsen has been writing songs, recording, and touring across Canada.  In 2015, Carsen was a regional finalist in the CBC 2015 Searchlight contest, and her single "Supernatural" reached #1 on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown. This year, Carsen received three nominations for the Indigenous Music Awards in Canada and won Best New Artist. She has been nominated for Best Music Video and Song of the Year for “Wanna See You” with DJ Shub.

 

GARY FARMER & THE TROUBLEMAKERS

Lifetime Achievement Recipient Gary Dale Farmer was born in Ohsweken, Ontario, into the Cayuga nation and Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee/Iroquois Confederacy. Gary was the Founder and Publisher of Aboriginal Voices Magazine, a magazine  devoted to Native Canadian issues.  He has over 100 Film and TV appearances to his credit as an actor with early roles in Police Academy (1984), The Believers (1987) with Martin Sheen, and Renegades (1989) starring Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips. Gary starred as in the Robert Redford- produced thriller, The Dark Wind (1991); opposite Lou Diamond Phillips and Corey Feldman and Corey Haim in the drama Blown Away (1993). In Sioux City (1994) and  the first Tales from the Crypt (1989) horror movie: Demon Knight (1995). Gary was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his performance as Nobody in Dead Man (1995), in which he starred opposite Johnny Depp, and for his role in Smoke Signals (1998). He appeared alongside Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro in The Score (2001). Gary has also directed  a few projects and has his own blues band: 'Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers’ who have released two CDs, Lovesick Blues and Road Songs. The band features N.A.M.A. award winners, Derek Miller on guitar, and veteran bluesman Marc Brown on guitar, along with Jaime Bird Yellowhorse on bass, and Jme Russell on drums.

 

 

 A TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH FIRECROW 

Joseph Fire Crow one of the top Native American flute players and flute makers in the world and was called a “National Treasure” by the media and “a cultural ambassador” by his hometown in Billings, Montana,  Joseph was Cheyenne and a Native American Music Awards multiple award winner who released albums from 1992 to 2017. Since 1992, Joseph released eight solo albums, with six of them released internationally. His accomplishments include; a GRAMMY nomination in the Best Native American Music Album category, eight Native American Music Awards, a Telly Award, and a GRAMMY as a guest artist on David Darling’s Prayer for Compassion. He holds Native American Music Awards for; Songwriter of the Year, Best Instrumental Recording, a three-time Flutist of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song/Single of the Year, and a NAMA Lifetime Achievement Award. Some of Fire Crow's music was also included on the soundtrack of the documentary Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery. Joseph was a humble, caring, compassionate man, whose smile and laughter is what people remember most. Joseph’s life was dedicated to sharing the wonders of his homeland with others around the world. He died on July 11, 2017 at the age of 58 after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Following word of his death, there was an outpouring of condolences and memories from other Native musicians across the country who found inspiration from him.

 

PLUS  THE NEWTOWN SINGERS  A TRADITIONAL GROUP FROM SENECA TERRITORY

Since its inception, Ohwejagehka Hadegaenage has distributed Earth Songs, or Iroquois Social Songs, as an effort to preserve and promote Iroquoian culture.  All the members of the Newtown SIngers work hard to continue their traditional ways. In this new era, they believe, they must all continue to work together to carry on their culture for the generations yet to come.

AND

THE ED KOBAN BAND 
Ed Koban is a multi-instrumentalist from Niagara Falls, New York playing mostly guitar and Native American Flute. Like the waters that roar over the edge in his hometown, Ed Koban's own music can be beautiful and evocative, raging and powerful. He has shared the bill with groups like; Foghat, Three dog Night, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, Indigenous, Rusted Root, and has performed in such nationally renowned venues like the Kennedy Center and at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Since 2011, Ed Koban has led the NAMA House band with his group, the Ed Koban Band for the Native American Music Awards performers and has become what Paul Shaffer was to Late Night with David Letterman. On the NAMA stage, Ed can rise to any occasion. He has performed with artist such as:  Nelly Furtado,, Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd & Blackfoot, Joanne Shenandoah ; A Taste of Honey’s Janice Marie Johnson, Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Nokie Edwards and many more.

 

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

 ERNIE STEVENS, JR

Ernie Stevens, Jr. is the Chairman and national spokesperson for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) in Washington, D.C.  Stevens is currently completing his seventh two-year term as the organization’s leader, which is a position elected by the member tribes of the National Indian Gaming Association. As Chairman of NIGA, Stevens represents the Indian gaming industry.  In this role, he has worked to educate Congress, the media and the public about the positive impacts of Indian gaming on tribal and nearby communities.  Stevens is also responsible for shaping policy initiatives that have the potential to impact the industry. Chairman Stevens is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.