Awards at the National Native Media Conference. Photo by Native American Journalists Association / Twitter
Native Sun News takes home 3 writing awards
By NSN Staff Santa Clara, Calif. —Native Sun News continued its hot streak in taking home three writing prizes at the Native American Journalists Association’s 2014 media awards. David “Bull Dawg” Michaud took home the first award of his career for a photo taken of Dusty Lebeau in his last Lakota Nation Invitational championship as high school basketball coach. The legendary master of the hardwood retired this past season and Michaud was able to capture his epic glare as he led the Pine Ridge Thorpes to last year’s boys LNI championship. “Being honored with any award is always surprising. I am just happy that people enjoyed my photo, especially with the story behind it. It was LeBeau’s final LNI championship and during a close time in the game and I feel like his intensity really shows through the photo,” said Michaud. Michaud has slowed down his output for NSN while he navigates a burgeoning career as a mixed martial arts fighter competing in the ultimate Fighting Championship and he is expected to step in to the cage again before the end of the year. In addition to Michaud, NSN publisher and editor Tim Giago, added to his extensive list of accolades in taking second place for his editorial on Wounded Knee titled “Stop, look and listen.” Giago was one of the original founders of the Native American Journalists Association and celebrated his 80th birthday this past weekend in Rapid City. Giago has been in the business of Native American media for nearly four decades and sees the award as one of the good jobs NAJA continues to do for Native American journalists. “When Pam Silas and the new management assumed the reins of NAJA I saw a renaissance of the organization I always envisioned it to be when we founded it in 1984. It’s been 30 years now and I am proud to see the organization is still moving forward,” Giago said. NSN took another big award when Managing editor Brandon Ecoffey won first place for his column remembering the life of Trace Davis. Davis was an inspiring young man living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation who lost his life to an ATV accident. “I’m honored to have won the award but I got more out of having an opportunity to write about someone who was truly a good person even if he was only a kid. His family allowed me to have him in my life and even if it was only for a short time, it was a blessing that I am grateful to have received,” said Ecoffey. This was the first time that NSN has submitted entries in to the NAJA contest. Earlier this year NSN took home multiple awards at the South Dakota Newspaper Associations 2014 convention for advertising, writing, and layout. (Contact The Native Sun News at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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