The Indian Hollywood "A"-list was out Saturday night, March 31, at the 9th
annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) awards.

The Beverly Hills Hilton was graced by such luminaries as Gary Farmer,
Elaine Miles, John Trudell, Michael Smith, Steve Reevis, and Ray Tracy. And
those were just the celebrities in the audience.

Indian stars who graced the stage included Rodney A. Grant, Saginaw Grant
(no relation), Drew LaCapa, Karina Lombard, Tyler Christopher, (double
award winner), Apesanahkwat, Zahn McClarnon, Kateri Walker, Valerie
Redhorse-Mohl, Kimberly Norris-Guerrerro, Selina Jayne; and performing the
hosting duties, Irene Bedard.

Lindsay Wagner, former star of TV's Bionic Woman, appeared as a presenter.
Perhaps the first year the cartoon characters made their way to the awards
-- even Bart Simpson and Rocky and Bullwinkle attended.

Presenter Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson on the animated TV
show The Simpsons, stepped up to the mic and asked, "I'm Bart Simpson, who
the hell are you?"

June Foray, Mohawk, who was the voice of Rocky and Bullwinkle on the
cartoon show, received this year's Trustee Award. She may be the only FAITA
recipient ever who has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Founder and Chairman of the Board Bob Hicks opened the evening by welcoming
the guests to the show that had humble beginnings at a Bob's Big Boy
breakfast in Burbank one Saturday morning in 1993. Dawn Jackson, cofounder
and Vice Chairman (and the other party at that Saturday morning breakfast),
extended appreciation for the support of the many tribes that contributed
to the FAITA scholarship fund by sponsoring a table.

Honor drum group Clan/destine sang the honor song to kick things off Indian
Way as the crowd rose to their feet in respect.

Encouraging was the fact that many productions with Indian actors will be
released this year. Past winner Zahn McClarnon is set to take off for Pine
Ridge to play a part in Skins, to be filmed in April.

Upcoming releases already in the can include Kimberly Norris-Guerrero
playing Jeff Daniels' wife in a comedy film, Kateri Walker playing the wife
in a Kevin Spacey film, and Valerie Redhorse-Mohl's participation in an NBC
movie-of-the-week produced by rapper Will Smith.

Proving that not only are Indians able to act, but they are also able to do
every imaginable behind-the-scenes job, were Dana de Vally Piazza, Darrell
Redleaf Fielder and Rod Rondeaux.

Piazza won for Achievement in Directing for Just Shoot Me. She previously
won a Director's Guild award for Mad About You.

Hairstylist Fielder was awarded for Outstanding Technical Achievement.
Fielder has styled the coifs of such famous stars as Gwyneth Paltrow, Lisa
Kudrow, and Elizabeth Shue, and won a Georgie award for his hairstyling of
Helen Hunt.

Possibly the most heartfelt and moving speech of the evening came from Rod
Rondeaux, who won for Achievement in Stunts.

"Do you know how long I've waited for this?" Rondeaux asked the crowd.
"Five years!" he shouted raising his award triumphantly. "First off, I want
to thank my mom's insurance company," Rondeaux quipped. "And I want to
thank my dad for being such a hardass when I was a kid."

The "Nigel Dark Cloud Uqualla Memorial Fund" received the Will Sampson
Award. The late Uqualla's mother was on hand to accept on behalf of her
deceased son. Uqualla thanked the Creator and asked the audience to "Please
remember each other. It seems we are the only friends we have in the gaming
issue."

Uqualla confessed that some of her family who came to Hollywood with her
were not present. "They took off for Vegas to do some gambling," she
confided.

Paul (add A.) Ortega, winning the Lifetime Musical Achievement award,
reminded the crowd, "Two things were given to us as Indian people: Songs
and prayers. They go together." Ortega admonished. "I learned in my prayers
to say thank you for the people who forgot to say thank you to the
Life-Giver."

Kimberly Norris-Guerrero was thoughtful and inspiring when receiving her
award for her guest performance in Walker, Texas Ranger. "I speak to high
schools," Norris said. "And we always tell the students that `If you can
dream it, you can achieve it.' Well, I'd like to see that happen right here
in Hollywood next year," Norris continued.

"I can dream a TV series where Tim Sampson has a lead role, just as a
character, not an Indian. I can dream that Adam Beach could be stopping by
here next year to pick up his Best Actor award for (the upcoming movie)
Windtalker after receiving an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. I can dream
it, I believe we can achieve it," Norris finished.

Half blonde and half black-haired, Rodney Grant, past winner, served as a
presenter. Explaining this, he told the audience, "I went to an audition
this year where they told me I didn't look Indian enough. So next week I'm
going to audition as Andy Warhol and see what they say."

Going for the shortest speech of the evening, Chickasaw Miko Hughes who won
for his recurring role in the TV series Roswell, said, "Thank you," and
acted like he was walking offstage.

As the laughter began, he walked back to the mic and asked, "Did I win the
TV?" (referring the Oscars' producer's offer of a bigscreen TV to the
shortest acceptance speech.) Getting serious, Hughes thanked the Chickasaw
Nation "for giving me a great heritage."

Longtime friend to Indians actor Max Gail (Wojohowitz on the TV series
Barney Miller) accepted the award on behalf of Floyd Westerman, who could
not attend. "I know if Floyd were here, he'd say something like `Taking the
land isn't enough, you also gotta take my award,'" Gail kidded.

Stunning both in her beauty and formidable talent, Karina Lombard made her
fourth appearance at the awards. Lombard starred in the movie Murder at the
Cannes Film Festival.

Whereas many winners do not bother to attend the awards, Lombard has shown
how important her Indian blood is to her by attending every time she has
been honored, as well as attending last year when only asked to be a
presenter. With one Lakota parent and one parent from France, Lombard was
born in Tahiti. Speaking with a very strong French accent, Lombard said,
"This is how I sound! I'm here to prove to you `Viva la difference!' (Long
live the difference)."

Many heads turned to do a double take when 5' 11" Molly Culver, lookalike
to Julia Roberts, walked onstage to receive her award for the Fox TV show
V.I.P. Culver, Choctaw/Chickasaw, is a regular on the series. "I'm so
proud," Culver said. Culver's dad, John Culver, originally from Oklahoma,
was Molly's date.

Perhaps the proudest achievement of the First Americans in the Arts is the
fact that since awarding their first scholarship in 1994, they have been
able to expand that number to three in year 2000 and four scholarship
recipients in 2001.

Noah Watts, a senior at Bozeman High School was helped along on his way to
the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. Gerald Vandever will be
assisted in his transfer to University of Washington in the Theater Arts
Dept.

Kathy Denazbah Peltier, a film major at University of Colorado at Denver,
will be aided in her plan to create films that record the history of Indian
people. Bennie Klain, well-known for Return of Navajo Boy, was awarded a
scholarship for the third time for his achievements.

Winners unable to attend were Jonathan Winters, Michael Greyeyes, Tantoo
Cardinal, Indigenous and Joanne Shenandoah.

Saving the best for last, Derrick and Vincent T. Davis introduced Marcus
Davis and wowed the crowd with a phenomenal three-man team hoop dance. The
standing ovation was in order and well-deserved for this breath-taking
tribute to Indian tradition.

The FAITA trustees plan a huge blow-out next year when they celebrate the
10th annual awards celebration. It promises to be bigger and better than
ever, so mark Feb. 2, 2002 on your calendar.