2009 NAIIA nominees

The nominees for the first North American Indigenous Image Awards are out. They're the usual mix of movie and music categories plus a few unusual choices. I'll list the film-related categories and the oddities below.

2009 North American Indigenous Image Awards Official NomineesBest Actor

Ron Harris "Moccasin Flats: Redemption"
Raoul Trujillo "Apocalypto"
Cody Lightning "Four Sheets to the Wind"
Derek Miller "133 Skyway"

Best Actress

Candace Fox "Moccasin Flats: Redemption"
Misty Upham "Frozen River"
Tonatzin Carmello "Imprint"
Jennifer Podemski "Moose TV"

Best Supporting Actor

Cowboy Smithx "Chance"
Ernie Tsosie "Mile Post 398"
Michael Spears "Imprint"
Stuart Pierre "Moccasin Flats: Redemption"
Tiio Horn "Moccasin Flats: Redemption"

Best Documentary Film

"The Hollywood Indian"
"River of Renewal"
"StarBlanket"
"The 8th Fire"
"Trail of Tears Cherokee Legacy"
"Our Spirits Don't Speak English: Indian Boarding School"

Best Feature Film

"Moccasin Flats: Redemption"
"Four Sheets to The Wind"
"Turquoise Rose"
"Rez Bomb"
"Imprint"

Best Short Film

133 Skyway
Ancestor Eyes
Good Looking
One Step Left

Best Guest Starring Role in a Television Show

Jennifer Podemski "The Border"
August Schellenberg "Grey's Anatomy"
Gregory Cruz "Saving Grace"
Gary Farmer "Easy Money"

Best Comedian of the Year

Ryan McMahon
JR Redwater
Vaugh Eaglebear
James and Ernie

Best Calendar

Runway Beauty
BT Girls
21st Century Skins Mens Calendar
Women of the Navajo

Best Magazine

National Indian Education Association "NIEA News"
Spirit Magazine
Redskin Magazine
Native Youth MagazineComment:  I guess being a few years old--as in the case of Apocalypto, Imprint, and Four Sheets to the Wind--is no bar to winning a 2009 award. Perhaps the NAIIA will limit the awards to the previous year in the future.

I have to wonder how shows like this pick their categories. Why calendars and magazines and not plays, dance routines, books, newspapers, websites, video games, fashion designs, photography, graphic art, painting, and so forth and so on?

Anyway, since the award show was supposedly April 23, the winners should be known by now. But I haven't seen any info on them.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.