Back in the early seventies, Marlon Brando won an Oscar for Best Actor and he refused to accept it. Instead, he sent a Native woman, Sacheen Littlefeather, to the podium to explain his refusal. He was refusing in protest of the general mistreatment of American Indians throughout history.

This caused quite a sensation in the press and may have added to the then increasing visibility of Native issues in the media. Then, in the early 80’s, Buffy Sainte Marie’s song “Up Where We Belong”, from the movie “An Officer And A Gentleman” was awarded an Oscar for Best Song. We proudly watched as Buffy took the Oscar in her hand and graciously accepted the honor. Though not much had changed in terms of the “general mistreatment of American Indians”, the fact that an Indian woman was being honored and recognized for an achievement in pop music was a special moment for not only Indian artists, but all Indian people.

Since then, Indians and awards ceremonies have been pretty much a non-issue. Yes, we have created our own awards to honor artists who have been overlooked by the greater media, and yes, some of those awards have been met with controversy and derision in Indian country. Nonetheless, like “others”, we all like to get that pat on the back, that recognition from our peers.

Hell, I’d love to one day win an Oscar, or a Tony...but I’d hope to win that award for the amount of talent I display, not the amount of blood on my CDIB.

Fast track to the early 2000’s and there is an “Indian Music” category at the Grammys. After many years of lobbying, and the fast growing sales in the genre of “Indian music”, Indian musicians are finally to be honored with an award of their own. The category is fraught with questions: what is Indian music? Should a folk artist such as the fine Joanne Shenandoah have to compete against a traditional drum?

Do Indigenous and Joe Fire Crow belong in the same category? Still, these things aside, we are finally at the Grammys, and thus finally back at the awards table. Then comes the big night, and I am left extremely uneasy.

It was not the fact that Tom Bee accepted the award for producing the drum group compilation “Gathering of Nations” with an impassioned thank you to Jesus Christ.

Many an eyebrow was raised in Indian country - not so much at his choice of whom to thank, but how that thank you was interpreted by the non-Indian world. We have always accepted pluralism in our communities; and though I take no issue with Tom’s beliefs, this was not an evangelical event.

Further, the audience reaction to Tom’s acceptance had all the enthusiasm of a tent revival meeting. It was as if they were applauding another savage convert to Christianity. Still, this could not fully explain the unease I felt about the whole thing.

Later, I’m speaking with Diane Fraher, the artistic director of AMERINDA and her feeling about the episode is even stronger: “we’ve been hustled again”. As we speak, I begin to see and understand how one little Grammy award can cause such a depth of feeling in the Native world.

First off, Diane points out that the Indian award was originally going to be given off-screen but for some unknown reason it was decided it would be televised. She then asked me to look closely at the events of that night:

The presenters are: Robbie Robertson (late of "The Band"), who recently rediscovered his Indian roots. Good for him. Accompanying him is Val Kilmer - a non-Indian Hollywood Indian. Not his fault. But - what are they doing up there? Granted, Mr. Robertson produced a soundtrack to a TV documentary, "The Native Americans" which included some "Indian music", and Mr. Kilmer was the FBI (not full blooded) Indian in the movie "Thunderheart". Still, neither are representatives of, or representative, of Native American music. Buffy Sainte-Marie is both. Buffy has been an accomplished and respected pop, folk, rock, electronic and traditional Indian musician for five decades. Her link to the community is unbreakable, and her commitment to activism and humanitarianism is well known and fruitful. More so, she is still creating, still singing and still teaching. Buffy should have presented this award.

After Tom Bee accepted his award, the president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave a heartfelt speech on the theme of “inclusion”. Hey, now we include Indians!!! He then introduces Eminem.

Eminem. I have no beef with Eminem. I think he’s a great rhymer and a better actor. Diane reminds me of his two main roads to the bank: hatred of women and hatred of gays. Now, we’ve just had a warm and fuzzy moment with Tom Bee, and the president of NARAS has reminded us of a gentle, kind Grammys that includes all kinds of folk, and with Indians included, heck we’re even spiritual now, and Eminem is singing about beating up his woman.

As Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols once said, “ever get the feeling you’ve been had?”.

One could say that the Grammys used Indian people as a smokescreen in order to condone hostility towards women. One could also say that the Grammys are continuing the age old tradition in the arts of generalizing Indian artists. One could even say that we shouldn’t need awards or the white man’s validation.

Have we been hustled again? Or, should we be glad to be back at the awards table again? It’s your vote - tell us what you think.