|
ITHACA, N.Y. - Building upon success, Native Americas Journal, the hemispheric publication
of Akwe:kon Press at Cornell University's American Indian Program, won nine national journalism awards at the 17th
Annual Native American Journalist Association convention. Held in Buffalo, New York, in June, Native Americas received
top honors for its insight into the realities of the indigenous world.
Native Americas won first place for general excellence in the magazine category for its timely, concise and critical
coverage of events and trends impacting indigenous communities throughout the Americas. This marks the second year
in a row that this award has been bestowed upon the journal. The journal also won honorable mention for best magazine
layout and design. "We are particularly happy to be honored by our peers in Native journalism," said
José Barreiro, Editor in Chief of Akwe:kon Press. "Even though we are based in a leading academic institution,
our focus and connection is to the community realities. We respect and report on Native cultures as an important,
major source of knowledge." Barreiro credited the painstaking work of Managing Editor Leslie Logan for the
high quality of the magazine. He also praised out the design work of Brendan White, whose consistent efforts resulted
in the layout award.
Leading the way for individual awards was Liz Hill who earned a first place in the best news writing category.
Published in the Fall 2000 issue of Native Americas, Hill's article, "The Green and the Red: A Third Party
Magnet in the Political Landscape," offered a timely-analysis of the Nader/LaDuke campaign during the 2000
presidential election.
Valerie Taliman also won two media awards from the journalist association for articles published in the Fall 2000
issue. Taking honorable mention for best news writing for her article, "Native Nations and the Politics of
2000: Platforms for Indian Country," and honorable mention in the best feature writing category for "Winona:
Why She Runs?" Paying close attention to mainstream politics is critical for many Native nations, Taliman's
articles offered an important examination of the political arena and the increasing presence of Natives engaged
in the process.
In the best historical perspective category, writers for Native Americas made an impressive sweep with three honorable
mentions. Native lawyers Susan Williams and Raquel Montoya-Lewis won for their in-depth survey of Native rights
on water issues in "Federal Indian Water Rights: Fundamentals and New Developments in Federal Indian Water
Law." American Studies professor and author John Mohawk won for his perspective of the Seneca prophet Handsome
Lake in "Tradition and Education: An Iroquois Interpretation of Handsome Lake." And, Chapman University
assistant professor Paul Apodaca won for his inspirational recounting of efforts to preserve and revitalize the
Native languages of California in "California Tongues: Language Revival as Basis for Cultural Renaissance."
Native Americas frequent contributor and author Bill Weinberg rounded out the list of this year's winners with
a first place in the best non-Native print feature category. Reviewing the history of uses and abuses of water
rights in the southwest, Weinberg's winning article, "Water Wars: Navajo Nation Reasserts Rights to the Colorado
River," reported on the effort of indigenous peoples to win a just share of this mighty river.
Visit the Native Americas website at http://www.nativeamericas.com and stay informed of emerging news, issues and events that impact indigenous peoples throughout
the western hemisphere.
|
