Native Oklahomans Nominated for Grammy

[blackcrowheart]

NEWS RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alex E. Smith: Cell: [phone] or [phone]

Cheevers Toppah: [phone] or [phone]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Native Oklahomans Nominated for Grammy

Sac and Fox Tribal member Alex E. Smith of Shawnee and Kiowa tribal
member Cheevers Toppah of Weatherford will travel to the Staples
Center in Los Angeles, California to attend the Grammy's on February
8, 2006. The duo received the Grammy nomination in the category
of "Best Native American Album of the Year" for their album
entitled "Intonation." They will perform the night before the
Grammy's at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.

The album has received rave reviews nationwide for the duos'
innovative blending of Southern Plains singing and choral
harmony. "Intonation," a Canyon Records release, has had impressive
album sales across the United States, Canada and Europe. This is the
second Grammy nomination for Alex Smith, who was first nominated
with the American Indian southern drum group Young Bird of Pawnee,
Oklahoma in 2002 in the same category.

"I am really honored and humbled by this second nomination," stated
Alex Smith. "The first time being nominated with Young Bird was an
incredible experience, but this time it is definitely more special
and personal for me. This is a culmination of a lot of hard work by
Cheevers and I. We are so humbled and honored to be recognized on
this level for this unique style we put together on "Intonation,"
Smith added.

The duo is currently in the process of trying to raise funds for
their trip to the Grammy's in which their ultimate goal is to take
their families with them to share in the special evening. There will
be a Benefit Pow Wow for the two Grammy nominees on Saturday,
January 21st at Tecumseh Square, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma, 1.5 miles
south of Fire Lake Casino. Hammond Motah will serve as Master of
Ceremonies. Gourd dancing will take place from 2:00-5:00pm. Supper
Break will be from 5:30-7:00pm and Inter-tribal dancing will go from
7:00pm to midnight. There will also be a Special Straight Dance
Contest sponsored by Juaquin Hamilton and a Special Women's Cloth
Dance Contest sponsored by Toni Tsatoke.

For more information contact Alex E. Smith at [phone] or at
[e-mail], or contact Cheevers Toppah at [phone].