All Winners
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AD I&II — AD III — Pro I — Pro II — Pro III — Other Combined Divisions — Special Awards
Note
All categories that were combined across division besides Associate I and II are listed towards the bottom. To keyword search on most non-mobile platforms use: Command F.
Entries that did not follow the published contest instructions were either moved to comply or disqualified at the contest admin and/or judges’ discretion.
STUDENT DIVISION
Student Category – Radio / Podcast
Radio / Podcast – Best Sports Story
No Winner
Radio / Podcast – General Excellence
First Place
Chance Dorland, Taylor Notah
Turning Points Magazine Podcast
Second Place
Lacee Mouser
University of Oklahoma – independent podcast
Through The Cracks
Student Category – TV
TV – Best Feature Story
First Place
McKenzie Allen-Charmley
Cronkite News
Navajo Firewood
TV – Best News Story
First Place
Thomas Mangloña II, KUAM News Photographers
KUAM News
Navy details plans to continue with the Mariana Islands Training and Testing
Second Place
Thomas Mangloña II, KUAM News Photographers
KUAM News
Saipan prepares for incoming passengers
Third Place
Thomas Mangloña II, KUAM News Photographers
KUAM News
KUAM gets a behind the scenes look at Saipan’s COVID-19 lab
Honorable Mention
Jared Nally
Haskell Indian Leader
KC Football honoree stands in solidarity with Native protestors
Student Category – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best News Story
First Place
Jared Nally
Haskell Indian Leader
Student Safety Jeopardized by Violation of Fifth Amendment
Second Place
Connor MacDonald
Haskell Indian Leader
Haskell FY2021 Funding
Third Place
Delila Begay
Haskell Indian Leader
Away From Home
Print / Online – Best News Photo
First Place
Raphael Romero Ruiz
Azcentral.com
Protesters at border wall site on Hia-Ced O’odham territory ends in standoff
Second Place
Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Tribal members band together at BLM rally
Third Place
Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Umatilla elder receives COVID vaccine
Honorable Mention
Jared Nally
Haskell Indian Leader
KC Football Honoree Stands In Solidarity with Native Protestors
Print / Online – Best Feature Story
First Place
Joseph Perez
The State Press at Arizona State University
Live más: Overnight at the Taco Bell on Apache
Second Place
Joseph Perez
The State Press at Arizona State University
My mom is a nurse in the face of a pandemic
Third Place
Noah Huerta
Turning Points Magazine
The tight-knit Town of Guadalupe
Honorable Mention
Joseph Singh
Haskell Indian Leader
Emotional Support Animal Spotlight: Brown Sugar
Print / Online – Best Feature Photo
First Place
Shalanndra Benally
Turning Points Magazine
Indigenizing archives
Second Place
Jared Nally
Haskell Indian Leader
Haskell Instructor Honored with Mural by Past Student
Third Place
Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
And the beat goes on
Print / Online – Best Sports Story
First Place
Jared Nally
Haskell Indian Leader
Fightin’ Indians
Print / Online – Best Sports Photo
First Place
Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Stockton spaces out defender
Second Place
Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Catching rays, cutting strokes
Third Place
Makayla Sloan
Haskell Indian Leader
Games Through Photos
Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage
First Place
Zachary Arquette
Haskell Indian Leader
Uprooted: Decaying Trees Plan to be Repurposed
Second Place
Marklin Morales
Haskell Indian Leader
The Haskell Glow-Up Coalition
Print / Online – Best Editorial
First Place
Raphael Romero Ruiz
The State Press at Arizona State University
Opinion: Forgotten Footsteps
Second Place
Joseph Singh
Haskell Indian Leader
The Unsung Heroes of Curtis Hall
Third Place
Joseph Singh
Haskell Indian Leader
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Print / Online – Best Column
First Place
Danielle Lucero
Turning Points Magazine
Native Scholar Comic
Print / Online – Best Digital Publication
First Place
Taylor Notah, Ravenna Curley, Brittany Gene, Ryan Allison and Shalanndra Benally
Turning Points Magazine
Print / Online – General Excellence
First Place
Haskell Indian Leader
ASSOCIATE DIVISIONS I & II
Associate Divisions I & II Combined Categories – Radio / Podcast
Radio / Podcast – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
DAILY DEBRIEF: Traditionalists blindsided by Cayuga Nation lawsuit against federal government
Second Place
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
DAILY DEBRIEF: Seneca Nation talks pandemic response, economic fallout of casino closures
Third Place
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
INSIDE THE FLX: Nationally recognized Indigenous rights lawyer weighs in on Cayuga Nation conflict
Honorable Mention
Gabriel Pietrorazio
FingerLakes1.com
EXCLUSIVE: John Kane, host of “Let’s Talk Native” says reinforcements coming to support Cayuga Nation families
Associate Divisions I & II Combined Categories – TV
TV – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Chris Picciuolo
O’odham Action News
SRPMIC Cultural Repository Beam Signing
Associate Divisions I & II Combined Categories – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Madeline Ackley
Cronkite News
Native American veterans still struggling to get the health care they were promised
Second Place
Stephanie Woodard
Rural America In These Times
Sioux People Are Protecting Their People from Pandemic: The governor is trying to stop them
Third Place
Anthony J. Wallace
Cronkite News
Pandemic shines light on complex coexistence of modern times, traditional ways on Navajo Nation
Print / Online – Best Photo of Native America
First Place
David Bacon
Capital & Main
Tulare County During the Pandemic – The Hard Price of Poverty
Second Place
Timothy Gonzalez
Smoke Signals
Visions of Snow
Third Place
Timothy Gonzalez
Smoke Signals
Memorial Day flyover
Honorable Mention
Timothy Gonzalez
Smoke Signals
Tribal members join Black Lives Matter march
ASSOCIATE DIVISION III
Associate Division III – Radio / Podcast
Radio / Podcast – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Kate Groetzinger
KUER
Navajo Families Without Internet Struggle To Home-School During COVID-19 Pandemic
Second Place
Brian Bull
KLCC
KLCC’s Coverage of Tribal Issues And Stories Across Oregon
Associate Division III – TV
TV – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Hunter Robert Baker, Jordan Fein, Raoul Max Trujillo, Justine Nagan, Chris White, Christopher Hastings and Carmen L. Vicencio
WORLD Channel
America ReFramed: The Blessing
Second Place
Drew Nicholas, Megan Whitmer, Elizabeth Day, Shirley K. Sneve, Justine Nagan, Chris White, Christopher Hastings and Carmen L. Vicencio
WORLD Channel
America ReFramed: Blood Memory
Third Place
Joie Chen
Matter of Fact and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project
Understanding the Voting Challenges Facing Native Americans
Honorable Mention
Michelle Daricek, Doug Podkowsky, Matt Frucci, Vaughn Hillyard, Chiara Sottile, Ray Farmer and Jenn Suozzo
NBC Nightly News
Underfunded Native American communities struggle with remote learning
Associate Division III – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best Coverage of Native America
First Place
Jessica Klein
The Fuller Project with Indian Country Today
They Survived Intimate Partner Violence‚ Now They Can Vote Safely
Second Place
Cindy YurthNavajo Times
Who are ‘Navajos for Trump’?
Third Place
Felicia Fonseca
Associated Press
Movement to highlight missing Native women expands to males
Print / Online – Best Photo of Native America
First Place
Charles Fox
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Story Time for Students
Second Place
Christian Toews
Biskinik
Tent with Stars
Third Place
Christian Toews
Biskinik
Chris Schatte fly fishes in Beavers Bend State Park
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION I
Professional Division I – Radio/Podcast
Radio/Podcast – Best Feature Story
First Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
OAN Connects – SRPMIC Member Performs Hoop Dances on World of Dance
Second Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
OAN Connects Episode 13 – Harvesting the Baidaj
Professional Division I – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best News Story
First Place
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Southwest Ledger
Federal judge hands Stitt another loss in tribal gaming fight
Second Place
Jodi Rave
Buffalo’s Fire
North Dakota businesswoman sues tribe alleging secret bank accounts
Third Place
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Southwest Ledger
Judge halts Kiowas from using CARES money
Print / Online – Best News Photo
First Place
McKayla Lee
The Southern Ute Drum
Sing our Rivers Red Earring exhibit
Second Place
Robert L. Ortiz
The Southern Ute Drum
A graduation like no other!
Third Place
McKayla Lee
The Southern Ute Drum
SUIMA hosts ‘Family Night’ & Book Fair
Honorable Mention
Fabian Martinez
The Southern Ute Drum
Wellness Court honors Weaver
Print / Online – Best Feature Story
First Place
Carol Craig
Yakama Nation Review
COVID-19 survivor shares experience
Second Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
Former SRPMIC President Diane Enos Among Arizona Women of the Century
Third Place
Fabian Martinez
The Southern Ute Drum
Ghosts of the Railroad: La Boca Bridge revitalized
Print / Online – Best Feature Photo
First Place
Cary Rosenbaum
Tribal Tribune
An elder’s smile
Second Place
McKayla Lee
The Southern Ute Drum
Students stay Close Up in D.C.
Third Place
Trennie Collins
The Southern Ute Drum
SunUte welcomes Jiu-Jitsu
Print / Online – Best Sports Story
First Place
Tasha Silverhorn
O’odham Action News
Lady Warriors make it to the Elite 8 of the 6A State High School Tournament
Second Place
Cary Rosenbaum
Tribal Tribune
The buzz around Hornet basketball
Third Place
Ryan Craig
Yakama Nation Review
YNTS’ Liulamaga joins 1,000-point club, likes to rebound
Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage
First Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
The Tradition of Harvesting Cholla Buds
Second Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
Baidaj Harvesting
Third Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
Border Wall Construction Affecting Quitobaquito Springs
Honorable Mention
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
Mesquite Usage by the O’odham and Piipaash
Print / Online – Best Elder Coverage
First Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
Salt River Memories by Ruth Chough
Second Place
Carol Craig
Yakama Nation Review
World War II hero recounts Nazi atrocities to tribal council
Third Place
Cary Rosenbaum
Tribal Tribune
A product of the old way
Honorable Mention
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
Community Elder Barbara Johnson Shares Her Life Experiences
Print / Online – Best Health Coverage
First Place
McKenzie Allen-Charmley
Cronkite News
Many Navajos face pandemic without running water, tribal members urged to lift each other up
Second Place
Trennie Collins
The Southern Ute Drum
Easing mental health in the face of COVID-19
Third Place
Trennie Collins
The Southern Ute Drum
Mental Health: Giacci helps us heal from our past
Print / Online – Best Layout
First Place
Robert L. Ortiz
The Southern Ute Drum
Second Place
Jessica Joaquin
O’odham Action News
Print / Online – General Excellence
First Place
Jeremy Wade Shockley, Robert L. Ortiz, Fabian Martinez, McKayla Lee and Trennie Collins
The Southern Ute Drum
Professional Division I – Multimedia
Multimedia – Best Multimedia
First Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
OAN Connects Episode 23
Second Place
Kiyanna Pushetonequa
Meskwaki Nation Times
105th Meskwaki Annual Powwow Edition
Third Place
Marissa Johnson
O’odham Action News
OAN Connects Episode 2
Honorable Mention
Jessica Joaquin
O’odham Action News
Ce’cemait Making with Miss Doris and Isaac
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION II
Professional Division II – Radio / Podcast
Radio / Podcast – Best Feature Story
First Place
Savannah Maher
Wyoming Public Radio
Lander’s One Shot Antelope Hunt Faces Mounting Pressure To “Re-Write The Script”
Second Place
Tripp Crouse
KNBA
A largely Indigenous theater production transforms classic holiday tale in Tlingit Christmas Carol
Third Place
Kamiah Koch
Smoke Signals
Grand Ronde’s Garden
Honorable Mention
Andi Murphy
Toasted Sister Podcast
E71: Indigenous Farmworkers – “Do your work no matter what other people say”
Radio / Podcast – Best News Story
First Place
Savannah Maher
Wyoming Public Radio
COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Urgent Need For Housing On Wind River
Second Place
Tripp Crouse
KNBA
Alaska ranks very low in 2020 Census self-response, but advocates remain optimistic
Third Place
Savannah Maher
Mountain West News Bureau
Tribal Councils Make Slow Progress Toward Gender Equality
Honorable Mention
Valerie Vande Panne
WGCU – NPR Southwest Florida
Young Seminole Tribe Member Sues Ron DeSantis
Radio / Podcast – Excellence in Beat Reporting
First Place
Savannah Maher
Wyoming Public Radio
COVID-19 impacts on the Wind River Reservation
Second Place
Andi Murphy
Toasted Sister Podcast
Indigenous food reporting
Professional Division II – TV
TV – Best News Story
First Place
Kamiah Koch
Smoke Signals
Proposed site of new Grand Ronde gaming facility
Second Place
Kamiah Koch
Smoke Signals
Grand Ronde hosts fire camp
Professional Division II – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best News Story
First Place
Benny Polacca
Osage News
ON Congress passes four bills to continue government operations amid pandemic
Second Place
Angel Ellis
Mvskoke Media
Former MCN Chief sentenced to prison
Third Place
Rosemary Stephens
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune
Returning to Learn: Opening schools during a pandemic
Print / Online – Best News Photo
First Place
Cody Hammer
Osage News
Drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Osage Nation
Second Place
Rosemary Stephens
I Can’t Breathe
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune
Third Place
Dallas Dick
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Thornhollow Bridge breaks during flood
Print / Online – Best Feature Story
First Place
Montoya Whiteman, Karen English, Kristen Goodfriend, Meghan Little and Candace McDonough
Winds of Change Magazine
Sustaining Wildlife – Sustaining Culture
Second Place
Chris O’Connell and Savannah Maher
Texas Observer / Wyoming Public Media
F Is For Fake: How a dozen possibly fraudulent and forged Indigenous artworks left Texas and ended up on museum walls in Wyoming
Third Place
Latoya Lonelodge
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune
Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project
Honorable Mention
Shannon Shaw Duty
Osage News
A change in name brings peace, comfort and understanding
Print / Online – Best Feature Photo
First Place
Cody Hammer
Osage News
Osage Nutcracker
Second Place
Dallas Dick
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Earth day buzz
Third Place
Cody Hammer
Osage News
Osage elder on Veterans Day 2020
Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage
First Place
Cary Rosenbaum and Wil Phinney
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Umatilla River flood coverage
Second Place
Montoya Whiteman, Karen English, Kristen Goodfriend, Meghan Little and Candace McDonough
Winds of Change Magazine
Fighting Fire with Fire
Third Place
Kashona Notah
KNBA
Podcaster, journalist work together to create climate change collaboration
Print / Online – Best Elder Coverage
First Place
Rosemary Stephens
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune
Reflecting back on Tribal Veteran/Elder Lawrence Hart
Second Place
Rosemary Stephens
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune
Arapaho Elder Erma Jean Brown chosen as one of AARP Indian Elder Honorees for 2020
Third Place
Morgan Taylor
Mvskoke Media
Veteran makes tribute to other veterans
Honorable Mention
Talli Nauman
Native Sun News Today
Indigenous Matriarchs Rising celebrates Women’s History Month
Print / Online – Best Health Coverage
First Place
Shannon Shaw Duty
Osage News
WHC conducts 1,500-plus COVID-19 tests, addresses testing incidents
Second Place
Cary Rosenbaum
Confederated Umatilla Journal
CTUIR’s ingenuity with lamprey freezer keeps vaccines at appropriate temperature
Third Place
Tripp Crouse
KNBA
Tribal health programs take precautions against coronavirus
Print / Online – Best Column
First Place
Gary Fife
Mvskoke Media
Emvpanayv: One Who Tells the Story
Second Place
Cary Rosenbaum
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Coyote Stories
Print / Online – Excellence in Beat Reporting
First Place
Benny Polacca
Osage News
Osage Nation Congress
Second Place
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Osage News
Education Beat Reporting
Third Place
Angel Ellis
Mvskoke Media
SCOTUS opinion impact coverage
Honorable Mention
Cary Rosenbaum
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Umatilla Reservation’s COVID-19 response
Print / Online – Best Layout
First Place
Mark Dreadfulwater and Travis Snell
Cherokee Phoenix
Second Place
Justin Phillips
Smoke Signals
Third Place
Sherry Stinson
Osage News
Honorable Mention
Cary Rosenbaum, Wil Phinney and Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Print / Online – General Excellence
First Place
Lani Hansen, Jerrad Moore, Morgan Taylor, Gary Fife, Clinton Sinclair, Pauline Randall, Angel Ellis and Mvskoke Creative
Mvskoke Media
Mvskoke News
Second Place
Shannon Shaw Duty, Benny Polacca, Cody Hammer, Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton and Ruby Hansen Murray
Osage News
Third Place
Cary Rosenbaum, Wil Phinney, Dallas Dick and Megan Van Pelt
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Honorable Mention
Dean Rhodes, Danielle Harrison, Timothy Gonzalez, Samuel Briggs III Samuel Briggs III and Justin Phillips
Smoke Signals
Professional Division II – Multimedia
Multimedia – Best Multimedia
First Place
Josh Fourkiller
Cherokee Phoenix
Family, historians share Ned Christie insights
Second Place
Angel Ellis and Jerrad Moore
Mvskoke Media
Anne Townsend Edwards discusses being a Muscogee foster parent
Third Place
Josh Fourkiller
Cherokee Phoenix
Sowing and Sharing Heirloom Seeds Series
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION III
Professional Division III – Radio / Podcast
Radio / Podcast – Best News Story
First Place
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Oklahoma Engaged
What Medicaid Expansion Could Mean for Oklahoma’s Indigenous Population
Second Place
Rhonda LeValdo
National Native News
Members of the Native community take part in Minneapolis demonstrations
Third Place
Antonia Gonzales
National Native News
Colonizer Statue Taken Down
Radio / Podcast – Best Feature Story
First Place
Brian Bull
KLCC
2020 Finds Indigenous Nations Preparing For Wildfires And COVID-19
Second Place
Brian Bull
KLCC
New Wave Of Social Justice Finds Black And Indigenous Activists United
Third Place
Brian Bull
KLCC
Following ‘Story Pole’ Controversy, Ritz Saunas Now Gifted With Tlingit Artist
Radio / Podcast – General Excellence
First Place
Alexis Sallee, Tara Gatewood and Andi Murphy
KNBA
Native Artist Podcast: A Special Presentation of Indigefi
Second Place
National Native News
Native Artist Podcast: A Special Presentation of Indigefi
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation
Third Place
Paige Willett
Hownikan
Radio / Podcast – Excellence in Beat Reporting
First Place
Rhonda LeValdo
National Native News
Racial Justice in Minneapolis
Second Place
Brian Bull
KLCC
2020 Census Coverage For Indian Country
Professional Division III – TV
TV – Best News Story
First Place
Priscilla Wolf
APTN
Minneapolis police officer charged in death of George Floyd was involved in shooting of Ojibwe man in 2006
Second Place
Brittany Hobson
APTN
Rise of Inuit living in Winnipeg shows the need for more Inuit-specific resources
Third Place
Chiara Sottile, Morgan Radford, Sumiko Moots, Paul Manson and Carey Moots
The Sunday TODAY Show
Coronavirus hits Indian Country hard, exposing infrastructure disparities
TV – Best Feature Story
First Place
Charles Kennedye, Jodi Rave, Georgiana Ausan, Patirck Myers and Gary Hochman
Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance / Buffalo’s Fire
Natsu Puuku Ranch
Second Place
Brittany Hobson
APTN
A miracle in the making: birth of Ojibwe pony in Manitoba first in decades
Third Place
Charles Kennedye, Jodi Rave, Gary Hochman, Georgiana Ausan, Patrick Myers and Daniel Lapham
Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance / Buffalo’s Fire
Valley of Thundering Waters
Honorable Mention
Priscilla Wolf
APTN
Saskatchewan family survives COVID-19 by returning to the trap line
TV – Excellence in Beat Reporting
First Place
Melissa Ridgen and Beverly Andrews
APTN
APTN InFocus
Second Place
Antonia Gonzales
New Mexico In Focus
COVID-19 in Indian Country
Professional Division III – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best News Story
First Place
Dalton Walker
Indian Country Today
Birthing center closure: ‘My baby and I felt abandoned’
Second Place
Chiara Sottile and Erik Ortiz
NBC News
Coronavirus hits Indian Country hard, exposing infrastructure disparities
Third Place
Debra Utacia Krol
Arizona Republic
Who’s not getting COVID-19 aid? Native American entrepreneurs who may need it most
Honorable Mention
Brittany Hobson
APTN
Hundreds of Indigenous children suspected of dying connected to care in Manitoba over decade
Print / Online – Best News Photo
First Place
Donovan Quintero
Navajo Times
Suspected virus death
Second Place
Sharon Chischilly
Navajo Times
American Horse with hand raised at Onate statue
Third Place
Donovan Quintero
Navajo Times
Vaccine arrives, Erica Harker carries into Sage Memorial
Honorable Mention
Sharon Chischilly
Navajo Times
Hemp farms protestor
Print / Online – Best Feature Story
First Place
Graham Lee Brewer and Cary Aspinwall
High Country News
How the Supreme Court upended a century of federal Indian law
Second Place
Stacey McKenna
YES! Magazine
A Way Out of a Dark Past
Third Place
Dalton Walker
Indian Country Today
There’s another story behind that Land O’Lakes butter box
Honorable Mention
Aliyah Chavez
Indian Country Today
96-year-old Navajo woman becomes an internet hit
Print / Online – Best Feature Photo
First Place
Sharon Chischilly
Navajo Times
Jill Jim, director of Navajo Nation Department of Health
Second Place
Donovan Quintero
Navajo Times
First snow
Third Place
Kiliii Yuyan
High Country News
On the deep human need to be outside
Honorable Mention
Garett Fisbeck
Hownikan
Top Hand Boots
Print / Online – Best Environmental Coverage
First Place
Debra Utacia Krol
Arizona Republic
Tribes and Fire
Second Place
Ka’nhehsí:io Deer
CBC Indigenous
By the rapids: Restoring Kahnawake’s bay and life on the water
Third Place
Meghan Sullivan
Indian Country Today
Slow, late salmon run hurting fishers
Honorable Mention
Debra Krol
Arizona Republic
In Phoenix, rising temperatures day and night kill more people each year
Print / Online – Best Health Coverage
First Place
Donovan Quintero
Navajo Times
‘I miss my brain’: Frontline hero continues to struggle with COVID-19
Second Place
Krista Allen
Navajo Times
With bleach and a prayer: In a tiny town, a clinic run by women holds the front line
Third Place
Rhiannon Johnson
CBC Indigenous
Celebrating Indigenous health-care workers
Print / Online – Best Elder Coverage
First Place
Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi
Searchlight New Mexico
Navajo Elders: Cherished, Neglected, At Risk
Second Place
Puanani Fernandez-Akamine, Kaleena Patcho and Jason Lees
Ka Wai Ola
Caring For Our Kupuna: An Act of Aloha
Third Place
Joaqlin Estus
Indian Country Today
David Katzeek leaves legacy of revitalized language, culture
Honorable Mention
Aliyah Chavez
Indian Country Today
96-year-old Navajo woman becomes an internet hit
Print / Online – Best Editorial
First Place
Rebecca Nagle
The Atlantic
Oklahoma suspect argument in front of the supreme court
Second Place
Shondiin Silversmith
The Arizona Republic
Being tested for COVID-19 sucks. What’s worse? Waiting for the results.
Third Place
Rhonda LeValdo
Kansas City Star
Problem with ‘Arrowhead Chop’ isn’t political correctness. It’s about human dignity
Print / Online – Best Column
First Place
Levi Rickert
Native News Online
Second Place
Duane Beyal
Navajo Times
Third Place
Tom Arviso
Navajo Times
Honorable Mention
Kolby KickingWoman
Indian Country Today
Print / Online – Excellence in Beat Reporting
First Place
Dalton Walker
Indian Country Today
Birthing center closure coverage
Second Place
Aliyah Chavez
Indian Country Today
Indigenous candidates running for office in a historic 2020 election year
Third Place
Meghan Sullivan
Indian Country Today
Alaska Policy
Honorable Mention
Jourdan Bennett-Begaye
Indian Country Today
COVID-19 in Indian Country
Print / Online – Best Layout
First Place
Biskinik Staff
Biskinik
Second Place
Kaleena Patcho
Ka Wai Ola News
Third Place
Trey DeLonais
Hownikan
Print / Online – Best Digital Publication
First Place
Kyle Edwards, Levi Rickert and Brian Edwards
Native News Online
Second Place
Alice Malepeai Silbanuz, Puanani Fernandez-Akamine, Kaleena Patcho, Ed Kalama, Jason Lees, Jhewel Felipe, Josh Koh, Ku’ualohapauole Lau and William “Trip” Rems
Ka Wai Ola News
Third Place
Jennifer Bell, John VanPool, Paige Willett, Mary Belle Zook, Emily Guleserian, Trey DeLonais and Garett Fisbeck
Hownikan
Print / Online – General Excellence
First Place
Tom Arviso
Navajo Times
Second Place
John VanPool, Jennifer Bell, Paige Willett, Mary Belle Zook, Emily Guleserian, Trey DeLonais and Garett Fisbeck
Hownikan
Third Place
Alice Malepeai Silbanuz, Puanani Fernandez-Akamine, Kaleena Patcho, Ed Kalama, Jason Lees, Jhewel Felipe, Joshua Koh and Kuʻualohapauʻole Lau
Ka Wai Ola News
Honorable Mention
Biskinik Staff
Biskinik
Professional Division III – Multimedia
Multimedia – Best Multimedia
First Place
Colton Shone, Nathan O’Neal and Jonathan Dineyazhe
KOB 4
The People vs. The Pandemic
Second Place
Chiara Sottile, Vaughn Hillyard, Ray Farmer, Doug Podkowsky and Michelle Daricek
NBC News Digital
Underfunded and Lacking Access
Third Place
John Sallee
KNBA
The Storyteller: A Special Presentation of The RIVR
Honorable Mention
Brittany Guyot and Holly Moore
APTN Investigates
Writing Home / Carving Home
COMBINED DIVISIONS (Besides Associates I & II)
Professional Divisions I & II – Radio/Podcast
Radio / Podcast – General Excellence
First Place
Jessica Joaquin
O’odham Action News
O’odham Action News Podcast
Second Place
Jill-Marie Gavin and Boots Pond
KCUW-LP Pendleton
Tac Maywii Nixyaawii!
Third Place
Tripp Crouse
KNBA
Statues spark discussion about colonialism in Alaska
Professional Divisions I , II & III – Radio/Podcast
Radio / Podcast – Best Newscast
No Winner
Professional Divisions I & II – TV
TV – Best Feature Story
First Place
Stacie Boston
Cherokee Phoenix
Cherokee language translator proud to share language
Second Place
Ramona Marozas, Greg Grell, Dawn Mikkelson, Dennis Anderson, Julie Zenner, The remaining Almanac North team!
Almanac North
Deer River Anishinaabe Education Program
Third Place
Stacie Boston
Cherokee Phoenix
CHEROKEE EATS: Kanuchi
Honorable Mention
Stacie Boston
Cherokee Phoenix
Cherokee Language Master Apprentice Program goes virtual with lessons
Professional Divisions II & III – TV
TV – General Excellence
First Place
Mark Trahant, Patty Talahongva, Vincent Schilling, Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Karen Lincoln Michel, Tomas Karmelo Amaya, Carina Dominguez, Maxwell Montour and Weldon Grover
Indian Country Today
Second Place
Ramona Marozas, Michael LeGarde, Lance Haavisto and Dawn Mikkelson
Native Report
Third Place
Darren Brown
Cheyenne and Arapaho Television
TV – Best Newscast
First Place
Ken Welsh, Derek Christensen, Francine Compton, Melissa Ridgen, Dennis Ward and Cheryl McKenzie
APTN National News
Second Place
Mark Trahant, Patty Talahongva, Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Carina Dominguez, Karen Lincoln Michel, Weldon Grover and Quindrea Yazzie
Indian Country Today
Wash Your Hands – ICT Newscast with Ricardo Cate
Third Place
Jerrad Moore
Mvskoke Media
Previously censored interview with Dr. Monte Randall leading a citizen initiative petition to restore free press at MCN
Professional Divisions I & II – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best Digital Publication
First Place
Jeremy Wade Shockley, Robert L. Ortiz, Fabian Martinez, McKayla Lee and Trennie Collins
The Southern Ute Drum
Second Place
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Print / Online – Best Sports Photo
First Place
McKayla Lee
The Southern Ute Drum
Cross-court action
Second Place
Trennie Collins
The Southern Ute Drum
Youth ballers rock the court
Third Place
Cary Rosenbaum
Tribal Tribune
Stretchy defense
Print / Online – Best Editorial
First Place
Jodi Rave
Buffalo’s Fire
Perspective: Government orders Tesoro Pipeline to shut down, pay landowners millions
Second Place
Cary Rosenbaum and Wil Phinney
Confederated Umatilla Journal
Third Place
Tim Giago
Native Sun News Today
Why did the Native Americans convert to foreign religions?
Professional Divisions II & III – Print / Online
Print / Online – Best Sports Story
First Place
James Giago Davies
Native Sun News Today
Four state championships to White River in 15 years: Taking a look at the Marshall plan
Second Place
Dalton Walker
Indian Country Today
Friendship between Ireland, tribes lives on
Third Place
Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times
Positive spin
SPECIAL AWARDS
2021 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award
Tom Arviso
2021 NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award
Haskell Indian Leader
2021 NAJA Richard LaCourse Award
APTN Investigates
High Country News
Mary Annette Pember & Indian Country Today