The National Museum of the American Indian has selected contemporary painter Benjamin Jacanamijoy Tisoy (Sibundoy Valley Inga), painter/multimedia artist Kent Monkman (Cree) and carved­buffalo horn artist Kevin Pourier (Oglala Lakota) for its 2005 Visiting Artist awards, while its Community Artist Fellowship was awarded to musician Marcus Frejo (Seminole).

Among the many award winners at the 14th annual Intertribal Marketplace at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles were Pahponee (Kickapoo/Potawatomi) in pottery, Gerald Scott Honwytewa (Hopi) in metal jewelry, Allen Aragon (Navajo) in non-metal jewelry, Robert Dale Tsosie (Navajo) in sculpture, Daniel Ramirez (Saginaw Chippewa) in painting/ mixed media, Mona Laughing (Navajo) in weaving, Benson Manygoats (Navajo) in cultural items and Philbert Honanie (Hopi) in woodcarving. Taking home the Best of Show award and a Jackie Autry Purchase Prize for his beadwork was Richard J. Aitson (Kiowa/Apache), while Isaiah Ortiz (San Felipe Pueblo) was awarded the other Purchase Prize.

Institute of American Indian Arts Professor Charlene Teters (Spokane) appeared on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel in October to discuss sports mascot issues.

In late September in Santa Fe, the delightful Santa Fe painter Harry Fonseca (Maidu) was presented the 2004 Allan Houser Award by Governor Bill Richardson and the Houser family.

The fabulously talented semi-abstract painter De Haven Solimon Chaffins (Laguna/Zuni) was selected to create the official program art for the 2004 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year program in New Mexico.

Eloise Cobell (Blackfeet) was presented the Jay Silverheels Achievement Award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development for her decade of work spearheading the investigation into the Indian trust fiasco.

Martha Berry (Eastern Cherokee) won the Best of Show award at the fall Cherokee Homecoming Show in Tahlequah, Oklahoma for her beaded bandolier bag "When Plants Become our Allies."

Katherine Gottlieb (Aleut) has received a $500,000 "genius" award from the MacArthur Foundation for her work as CEO of the Southcentral Foundation of Alaska and her transformation of its healthcare services.

NASA engineer Jerry Elliott and singer Wayne Newton have been presented the Cherokee Medal of Honor for their achievements
in their respective careers.

Maureen Lesky (Choctaw/ Kiowa/Comanche) has been selected as a Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher, which included an all-expenses-paid stay in Japan in November. The San Felipe Pueblo teacher was selected from a pool of several thousand applicants.

U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (N. Cheyenne), National Museum of the American Indian Director Richard West (S. Cheyenne), Riverside Indian School teacher Cruz McDaniels (Kiowa/ Lakota/Zuni) and his talented student Myron Wahnee, Jr. (Delaware) were presented Living Legacy Awards by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton in September.

Travis Cook (Mohawk) of Fulton, New York was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame on November 6. Cook, the Oneida Indian Nation recreation director, played professionally with teams in Syracuse and Quebec, amassing 141 goals in 92 contests.

The International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas has picked Kenneth L. Pierce (Seneca/Onondaga) as the Outstanding Knife Thrower of the 20th century.

PGA golfer Notah Begay III (Navajo) was featured in the "MyShot" section of Golf Digest in October, touching upon his grandfather, Notah's notable health program Walk With Me, and other topics.

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The $250 million Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa opened to great fanfare in November in Cabazon, California, some 20 minutes west of Palm Springs. Facilities include a 148,000-square-foot casino, a 23-story hotel tower topped by a two-story glass penthouse restaurant and lounge, suites with private pools, lush gardens and a full spa set on 44 acres of desert terrain between the San Gorgonio and San Jacinto mountains.

The Lummi House of Tears Carvers, led by master carver and Lummi councilman Jewell Praying Wolf James, donated a pair of totem poles they created to Pentagon officials at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in late September. The Liberty and Freedom poles contain a wealth of carvings and images of symbolic significance, such as a pair of bears representing courage and strength, in memory of the 184 people who died at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. The poles will end their journey on Kingman Island in the Anacostia River as part of the nation's 9/11 Memorial Grove.

The third edition of the action comic book KODA the Warrior featuring a Dakota hero is just out (see "On the Wind," Nov./Dec. 2003), tackling the issues of fighting negativity and healing one's self and community. The book is the creation of Mark Mindt (Spirit Lake Nation), an educator at the United Tribes Technical College. Details: $4.50 each, 701/471-6257 or kodathewarrior@yahoo.com.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center of Connecticut is calling for the submission of artworks by northeastern Native artists for an exhibition to run from June through September, 2005. The deadline is March 1. Details: Steve Cook, 860/396-6813.

The American Composers Forum has received a Ford Foundation grant to launch the First Nations Composer Initiative for American Indian classical musicians. The grant will be used toward a Web site, composer showcase events, composition camps for Native youth, a record label and other goals: Details: 651/228-1407 or www.composersforum.org.

The Gila River Indian Community of Arizona has donated $1 million to the Heard Museum of Phoenix for the museum's new signature exhibition, HOME: Native Peoples of the Southwest. The donation comes primarily through income derived from the tribe's gaming operations. Dignitaries present at the announcement of the grant included GRIC Governor Richard Narcia and Heard Board Presisdent Richard Silverman. It is the tribe's largest philanthropic donation to date.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has issued a $1.5 million grant to establish The Center for Native American Radio. The center will provide technical, fundraising and programming support to some 30 public radio stations serving Native listeners coast to coast. Native radio stations provide essential programs, services and news to some of the nation's poorest and most isolated communities. Operations will be directed by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, overseen by a Native board of advisors. Details: www.nfcb.org.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has reached an agreement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes allowing the tribes to begin active management roles at the National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana. The tribes have assumed responsibility for biological, fire, maintenance and visitor services at the 18,500-acre range, which protects 350 to 500 buffalo as well as numerous other rare and threatened animal species.

The University of New Mexico is working with a three-year, $900,000 grant from the New Mexico State Department of Education to increase the number of American Indian teachers and principals. The program is being administered by UNM's Institute for American Indian Education. Applications for the 2006 fall semester are being accepted through late May. Details: Dr. Joseph Suina, UNM College of Education, 505/277-7781.