Red Nation Celebration was established out of a direct need. RNC has its roots in Santa Fe, New Mexico, produced during the famous Indian Market (1995 to 1997); RNC pioneered the music movement during Indian Market. In 1995 there wasn’t any contemporary American Indian music being performed during Indian Market.
In 1998, Red Nation moved to Los Angeles produced during the most important weeks of the music industry “The Grammy Awards Week.” In 2003, Red Nation Celebration “Concert Series” became an “Official Grammy Event” and went on to become Red Nation Celebration’s “Signature” Event.
In 2005, Red Nation launched the music scene on the Plaza during Indian Market week-end in Santa Fe NM and now native music is being performed on the plaza.
Red Nation Celebration “Concert Series” is still being produced during Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico in August and is the largest performing arts event, representing American Indian & Indigenous music, actors, writers, directors, producers, and visual artists.
Due to Red Nation’s vision, native music is being heard throughout Indian Market. Red Nation inspired this music movement and now audiences can experience native music almost anywhere throughout the United States. Red Nation’s success is a revolution and presentation of Native music from all over Indian Country from within the communities urban to reservations. Red Nation was recognized as a groundbreaking concept and became a widely publicized event of national stature. Red Nation has successfully featured American Indian recording artists, Grammy winners and nominees, and has been a launching pad for numerous American Indian musicians who have been signed to labels since performing at Red Nation’s concerts over the last 20 years.
ABOUT NATIVE WOMEN IN MUSIC (NWIM)
NATIVE WOMEN in MUSIC Concert Series, since its inception in 1996, with five major “Native Women in Music” concerts under its belt – Native Women in Music has become a MUSIC MOVEMENT. “We are not on main stream radio nor prime time television yet” said Romero, “Its time for change and that change is now.”
The first “Native Women in Music” Concert Series was acknowledged by Mayor Debbie Jaramillo 1996 – City of Santa Fe Mayor Debbie Jaramillo Proclamation of “Native American Women’s Day in Santa Fe” – August 17, 1996.
Two years after “Native Women in Music” was launched, Sarah McLaughlin of the world’s famous “Lilith Fair Tour” asked Romero to join her all women tour in 1998. Romero represented the American Indian voice and was the only American Indian recording artist to perform that year along with Sinead O’Connor, the Indigo Girls and Natalie Merchant; first all female tour.
Red Nation Performing Artists since inception 1995 to now ….
The Plateros – returning artist
Noah Watts
Governor Joe Garica – President of National Congress of American Indian
Montano Rain (Matrix Reloaded) – returning artist
Sage Galesi (Awarding winning Actress Starred in the mini-series Dreamkeeper & Steven Spielberg/TNT “Into the West”) – returning artist
Joanelle Romero – returning artist
BlackFire – returning artist
Randy Castillo – former drummer for Ozzy Osborne – returning artist
Joanne Shenandoah – Grammy
Diane Shenandoah
Joy Harjo with Poetic Justice
Joy Harjo – returning artist
Thais Albert – returning artist
Julian B. – returning artist
Lucie Idlout
Derek Miller
Irene Bedard – returning artist
Martha Redbone
Russell Means – returning artist
RedBone – Grammy Nominee
Aaron White (SkyChasers) – returning artists -Grammy
Quese IMC – returning artist
Gary Framer
Litefoot
Kashin
Bill Miller – Grammy
Robert Mirbal – Grammy
Barbara Williams – returning artist
Edward Albert, Jr. – returning artist
Michael Spears
Eddie Spears
MasterPeace
Cherokee Rose
Star Nayea
Burning Sky
Boys for the Rez
Sundance – returning artist
Andrew Ahsona
Geraldine Barney
Donna Concha
SC Kool
TRADITIONAL DRUMS (over the years)
Hershel Dayzie – Dine Nation
Pierson Nunez – Acjachemen Nation
Moses Bring Plenty – Cheyenne River/Sioux Nations
Clayson Benally of Blackfire – Dine Nation
Red Nation Celebration Traditional Drum – returning artist
The Mankillers (all women drum group) – returning artist
Two Red Skins and One Yellow Man – returning artist
The Taos Singers
White Buffalo Singers/Drum – returning artist
Red Hand Singers/Drum – – returning artist
Wild Horse Singers
TRADITIONAL FLUTES (over the years)
Phillip M. Hauzous -Traditional Flute – returning artist
Joseph Lam Medicine Robe – Traditional Flute – returning artist
Joseph Fire Crow – Traditional Flute – returning artist – Grammy
TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUPS (over the years)
The American Indian Dance Theatre
The American Indian Dance Company
Ben Wolf & Traditional Dancers – returning artist
Dinetah Dancers
Red Hand Dancers
SPECIAL APPEARANCES (over the years)
David Bowie Band / Tony Sales
Rick Auerbach Assessor Proclamation (read by Carol Wong Quan)
Los Angeles Mayor’s Proclamation (read by Irene Bedard)
Tal Finney (Advisor to Gray Davis)
Santa Fe Mayor Debbie Jaramillo
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Los Angeles Councilmember Bill Rosendahl
Rick Auerbach Assessor Proclamation (read by Carol Wong Quan)
Former Senator Tom Hayden
Troy Garity
Ally Walker
Esai Morales
Poppy Montgomery
Barry Goldberg
Sally Kirkland
Edward Albert Jr.
Gary Busey
MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS & ARTISTS (over the years)
Edward James Olmos
Vic Bulluck (NAACP)
Peter Coyote
Dan Aykroyd
Tony Sales – David Bowie Band
Julie Christensen
Steven Collins & The 7th Band
Peter York – The Monkeys
Gary Busey
Tony Sales
Lee Butterfield – Paul Butterfields Son
Avarice
Chris Douglas
Bray Ghiglia
HOSTS (over the years)
Chief Oren Lyons
Edward Albert Jr. – returning artist
Peter Coyote
Shannon and Shauna Baker (The Baker Twins) – returning artist
Michael Horse – returning host
Jay Tavera – returning host
Vanessa Brown – returning host
Larry Sellers – returning host
Carrie Dunn Anderson – returning artist
Chris Lawford
Catherline Carlen
Sheriyln Fenn
Sally Kirkland – returning host
Edd Hall
Shadoe Stevens
Elaine Miles
Conroy Chino of KOB-TV 4
Suzan Shown Harjo
FEATURED ARTISTS (RNC Posters) – over the years
Ben Shortly – Navajo
Michael Horse
Ikosky
Murdock Mojado
Montano Rain
CONCERT DEDICATIONS (over the years)
John Paul Getty III
Solomon Burke
Geronimo
Sitting Bull
Crazy Horse
Wallace Black Elk
Randy Castillo (former drummer to Ozzy, Lita Ford, Morley Crue)
George Harrison (Beatle)
Rick Danko (The Band)
Allan Houser (Artist)
HONOREES (over the years)
Elizabeth Taylor
Don & Theda Keel
Randy Castillo
Skywalkers (American Indian Men Who Built the Twin Towers)
Navajo Code Talkers
Edward Albert Jr. (Commissioner of American Indian Affairs for the State of California)
Mike Smith, Founder of American Indian Film Festival
Tom Bee, Founder of SOAR Records
Richard Brown – Toys R Us
OPENING BLESSINGS (over the years)
Mati Waiya Ceremonial Elder– Chumash Nation
Montano Rain – Apache/Cheyenne Nations
Pete Catches – Lakota Spiritual Leader
Jimmy Castillo – Tongva Spiritual Leader
Chief Crazy Bull – Lakota Spiritual Leader
Chief Norman Tulley – Sundancer & Sundance Leader
John Funmaker – Community Spiritual Leader
Sagna Grant – Actor/Traditional Dancer/Elder
Christine Padilla – Lakota
Lance King – relative of Frank Fools Crow/nephew to Chief Arvol Looking Horse
