Native Americas, a journal published by the Akwe:kon Press at Cornell's American Indian Program, won six media awards at the 1999 Native American Journalists Association's (NAJA) annual awards held in Seattle in July.

First place for "Best Layout and Design" in the magazine category went to Brendan White, production manager and web site developer for Native Americas. The award was a first for Akwe:kon Press. White, an Akwesasne Mohawk, has been an integral member of the Akwe:kon Press staff for more than four years.

Native Americas won first honorable mention for "General Excellence" in the magazine category for its critical analysis and coverage of indigenous issues and events. Conceptualized by Josè Barreiro, a Taino, and Tim Johnson, a Six Nations Mohawk, the journal has focused on issues such as tribal democracy, indigenous knowledge and casinos. Barreiro is editor in chief of Native Americas.

Richard Monette and Robert Lyttle each won first honorable mention for the "Best Editorial" category for their column "The Crisis is Constitutional." Published in the spring 1999 issue, the article reports on the dilemmas encountered by Indian reservations that have tribal constitutions.

Victor D. Montejo, an associate professor at the University of California-Davis, earned first honorable mention for "Best Column" for "Becoming Maya? Appropriation of the White Shaman," which also appeared in the spring 1999 issue. Analyzing the appropriation of culture, Barreiro said, "Montejo wonders about some of the Mayanists of today who are not only studying his culture but who are becoming would-be medicine men."

In addition, Craig Benjamin, afrequent contributor to Native Americas , won second honorable mention for "Best News Story Non-Native," for "Amazonian Confrontation: Native Nations Challenge the Patenting of Sacred Plants." Published in the winter 1998 issue, Benjamin reports on the sterilization of seeds and its implication on indigenous farmers around the world.

Held in conjunction with UNITY '99, the dual events in Seattle drew nearly 7,000 journalists of color. Only the second joint gathering of its kind, the conference included the Native American Journalists Association, the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.