Long before singer Joanne Shenandoah was nominated for a Grammy, she was winning Nammy awards.
The Native American Music Awards is in its seventh year, and Shenandoah has been nominated for best short or long film video, which was produced by KUNM.
Last year KUNM gathered Shenandoah, flutist R. Carlos Nakai, singer Bill Miller and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra under one roof. They recorded a performance called "Song of the Spirit," at the KiMo Theatre. The resulting video was nominated for the award.
Michael Kamins, executive producer for the show, said "Song of the Spirit" was the brainchild of general manager Ted Garcia.
"He thought it was really important to bring together Native-American music with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra," he said. "It's kind of a crossover piece."
He said KUNM brought in a lighting designer who had done a Super Bowl game, and Albuquerque filled up the KiMo Theatre.
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"It was really a first-rate production," he said.
Shenandoah, who is Iroquois, has won 10 Nammy awards. She won't be able to attend the award show in Florida on Thursday. She will be in Los Angeles, where she was nominated for a Grammy award in the folk category.
She said performing "Song of the Spirit" was one of the best experiences she's had and being nominated for Nammy awards never loses its thrill.
"It's always exciting to know that the hard work and talents of the Native people are being recognized," she said.
Donald Kelly, executive director of the Nammy awards, said, like the Grammy's, the nominations are based on a voting system.
"We send out a ballot to our advisory board, and they vote on the music," he said.
Miller was also nominated for a Grammy, but Shenandoah said she doesn't consider him competition.
"We're doing what we love," she said. "That is the main thing. It's a big thank you for what you do."
Kamins said if "Song of the Spirit" won, it would mean a lot for KUNM.
"It further demonstrates our commitment to our multicultural community, not only in the Southwest but, in a broader case, nationally." he said.
He said "Song of the Spirit" was a sleeper hit in Albuquerque last year.
"People heard it about it after we did it," he said.
Kamins said those who saw it were delighted.
"The big challenge when you've got this much talent is, we shot more material than we needed," he said.
Choosing what to cut proved difficult, Kamis said.
"Song of the Spirit" will re-air on PBS nationwide in March.
Shenandoah said she is blessed and fortunate, and music is what keeps her going.
"It's what allowed us to survive as Native people on this earth," she said.
