Native Americas, a journal published by the Akwe:kon Press [pronounced ah-GWAY-go] at Cornell University's American Indian Program, won five media awards at the 1998 Native American Journalists Association's (NAJA) annual awards held in Tempe, Ariz., in June.

Also, the First International Conference on Indigenous Literature awarded José Barreiro, editor in chief of Native Americas, with "The Committed Plume Award" on July 29 in Guatemala. The group recognized Barreiro for his consistent understanding and support of the indigenous peoples of Central America, in particular the Maya Kekchi of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. It is the first award of its kind.

"I am honored and delighted to have received these awards from my peers," said Barreiro.

His work focuses on communications between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere indigenous communities, with a specific interest in human rights and strengthening the Native-American community.

"It's important, more than ever before, that links between Northern and Southern indigenous communities be forged as Indian peoples in the hemisphere are still struggling to maintain their rights, freedoms and values," Barreiro said.

At NAJA, Mark Trahant, a contributing editor of Native Americas and a member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribes of Idaho, led the way, winning first place in the Best Column category for his story "Mark of Leadership: Honoring the Peaceful Chiefs," which appeared in the winter 1997 issue. The article reported on the contributions of the quiet, peaceful chiefs whose stories were often overlooked by the media.

Native Americas also won awards for its content and design with honorable mention awards for General Excellence and Best Magazine Layout and Design, which Barreiro attributed to "the excellence in quality that production manager and designer Brendan White has maintained."

In addition Craig Benjamin, communications director of Cultural Survival Canada and frequent contributor to Native Americas, won an honorable mention Best Story Non-Native award for his article "Biopiracy and Native Knowledge: Indigenous Rights on the Last Frontier," which appeared in the summer 1997 issue. New York journalist Bill Weinberg also won an honorable mention Best Story Non-Native award for "Requiem For Big Mountain: The Road to Relocation is Unrelenting," which appeared in the fall 1997 issue.