As
the sun melted into the ocean, people began gathering at the ritzy Century
City Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills for the 10 th Annual First Americans
in the Arts (FAITA) extravaganza on February 2nd. Beautifully attired
women and men greeted old friends and caught up on what had been happening
in each other's lives, exchanged business cards and talked about future
events.
Inside the beautiful room where dinner was
served followed by the award show, were three large IMAX screens which
allowed everyone unrestricted visibility of the presenters, award winners,
the entertainment, and the wonderful film clips that preceded each award
winner.
Over ten years ago, FAITA Vice Chairperson
Dawn Jackson (Saginaw Chippewa), and Chairman Bob Hicks (Creek/Seminole)
saw the importance of recognizing "Native performers in the arts;
representing theater, stage, film, television and music," explained
Dawn. They felt Native performers weren't getting the recognition they
deserved. Thus FAITA was born.
The evening was hosted by the irrepressibly
charming Wes Studi, (Cherokee), who had the audience laughing throughout
the night. Later, Charlie Hill (Oneida) who was one of the presenters,
had everyone laughing too, as seen in the accompanying photo.
Here are just a few of the happenings from
the recent evening at the FAITA's.
Irene Bedard (Inupiat Eskimo/Cree), received
the award for Best Guest Performance by an actress in her role as a
CIA agent in the TV show, The Agency. Upon accepting, Irene laughed
and said she had fun playing one of the roles many actors hope to play
-- a CIA agent.
Presenting the award for best actor in a TV
series to Mitch Longely for his role in Judging Amy, was actor, Floyd
Red Crow Westerman (Dakota Sioux), and actress Kateri Walker (Ojibway/Odawa/Potowatomi),
both previous FAITA winners.
Among the entertainment of the evening was
two-time Grammy winner and musical legend, Rita Coolidge (Cherokee/Scottish).
Introducing the song she would sing, Rita said, "I'm going to do
just a couple of versus from a song that is considered the Cherokee
National anthem, because it was the song most sung on the Trail of Tears."
With her beautiful velvety voice, Rita sang Amazing Grace acappella
in Cherokee.
Later that evening, Rita was honored with
FAITA's Lifetime Achievement Award. But prior to her introduction, a
wonderful film collage highlighting Rita's 30 years as a singer was
shown on the big screens.
Introducing Rita, Mary Youngblood (Chugach
Aleut/Seminole), Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chad Smith,
and his wife Bobbi, articulated Rita's many accomplishments.
The beautifully elegant Rita Coolidge then
walked on stage smiling as the audience applauded. With a laugh, she
said, "My gosh, when I look at that footage it makes me feel like
I've been around a lot longer than I remembered."
Talking with Rita before the FAITA ceremony,
she said she would be leaving the next Tuesday to sing at the Opening
Ceremony at the Olympics where Rita, her sister Priscilla, and Priscilla's
daughter Laura Satterfield, performed along side Robbie Robertson.
Recipient
of the award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance was the very exhilarated
Marla Bingham (Wampanoag from Mashpee/black), who seemed to float as
she came across the stage. Marla is an internationally known dancer
and choreographer, and the founder of the Marla Bingham Contemporary
Ballet Company.
After the show, Kateri had fun posing for
photos with N. Bird Runningwater (Cheyenne/Mescalero Apache), who expressed
himself "artistically" with his outfit, as you can see in
the photo. "I wanted to reflect the surroundings from the world
we live in today," he explained. "Floyd told me he liked the
outfit, and asked what it meant. I told him, it's sort of a new take
on the shades-and-braids look," said Bird laughing. "The term
apple (in rhinestones on his shirt) is such an ironic and contradictory
term that Indians use against each other. Nobody ever publicly references
it; it's a colloquialist term. I wanted to be thought provoking, not
to rebel against anything -- I just want to raise individual consciousness."
He continued, "I think we are naturally philosophers and thoughtful
people, and I want people to think about language." Bird's other
persona is as the person who runs the Native American Program at the
Sundance Institute, and programmer for Sundance Film Festival in Los
Angeles.
The band Redbone played at the party following
the award presentations. Those who wanted to be able to actually hear
each other talk, mingled outside the party room. Reluctant to let the
night end, and not wanting to leave friends they rarely get to spend
time with, some people stayed up all night and welcomed in the new days
sun.
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Actor Zahn McClarnon (Hunkpapa
Dakota/Irish)
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Veteran actor Saginaw Grant (Creek),
and Tim Sampson (Creek), who is appearing in the Broadway production
of One Flew Over the Cuckoo¹s Nest, received a FAITA award
for Theater.
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Comedienne Charlie Hill (Oneida)
and actor Floyd Red Crow Westerman (Dakota Sioux)
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Actress Kateri Walker (Ojibway, Odawa, Potowatomi),
past FAITA award winner and a presenter this year with actor,
writer, publisher Harrison Lowe (Diné)
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Actress Kateri Walker (Ojibway, Odawa, Potowatomi)
with N. Bird Runningwater (Mescalero Apache, Cheyenne)
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Apensanahkwat (Menominee Chief), Max¹s
date, Steve Reevis (Blackfeet), actor and activist Max Gail, and
Macile Reevis
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What Bird looks likes most days as the chairman
of the board for Native Americans in Philanthropy, and advisor
to the Sundance Institute's Native Film Program.
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Actor Miko Hughes (Chickasaw)
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Stuntman David Alvarado (Karankawa/Tonkawa)
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Award winner Molly Culver (Choctaw)
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Stuntman and actor Henry Kingi, Sr. (Cherokee/Black/Anglo)
received a FAITA award for Lifetime Achievement in Stunts
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Melonie Mathews and Miss Indian World, Ke Aloha
May Cody Alo (White Mountain Apache/Hawaiian)
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Choreographer and dancer Marla Bingham (Wampanoag
from Mashpee) received the Award for Technical Achievement, with
actor Andrew Roa (Shasta and Oaxaca)
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Actor Steve Reevis, (Blackfeet)
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Steve and wife, Macile, clothing designer
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Actor Timothy Vahle, (Choctaw)
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Actor Mitch Longely - FAITA Outstanding Performance
by an Actor in a TV Series
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Michael Horse (Zuni, Yaqui, Mescalero and Apache)
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FAITA Vice Chair Dawn Jackson (Saginaw Chippewa),
Chairman Bob Hicks (Creek and Seminole) and FAITA producer, Jackie
Kane
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(The photos of Rita and Priscilla (bottom)
and Laura Satterfield (top) were taken in November at the Native
American Music Awards in Albuquerque, NM)
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Actor Apensanahkwat (Menominee Chief) with actor
Michael Greyeyes (Cree)
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Flutist Mary Youngblood (Chugach Aleut/Seminole)
Rita Coolidge (Cherokee) with friend, talking with Principal Chief
of the Cherokee Nation, Chad Smith
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Actor Floyd Red Crow Westerman, (Dakota Sioux)
Actress Sophia Gerodimous, James Main Jr. (GrosVentre), Actor
Steve Reevis (Blackfeet) and wife Macile, and friend
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