Lifetime Achievement
Past winners and testimonials
The Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 1995 to recognize artists whose body of work reflects a lifetime of integrity and excellence-artists who have made significant contributions to the work of American Indian art.
Lifetime Achievement Award winners read like a "Who's Who" of Native American artists. Maria Martinez. Allan Houser. Pop Chalee. Lloyd Kiva New.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards are presented at the Honoring Reception, SWAIA's event that officially opens Santa Fe Indian Market. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners are given the opportunity to speak at this ceremony and it is typically the most moving event of Indian Market weekend.
In 2002, Lucy Whitehorse was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Whitehorse does not speak English, only Navajo. Her daughter, therefore, translated Ms. Whitehorse's comments for the audience.
Another 2002 recipient, Bob Chavez, is a Bataan Death March survivor. After he was presented his award, Mr. Chavez noted in his comments that the Death March got to be "a little rough." He implored the Great Spirit, promising that if he were allowed to survive the ordeal, he would then dedicate his life to art. When he returned to New Mexico, he went back to his alma mater, St. Catherine's Indian School in Santa Fe. He established the Art Department at St. Catherine's and ran it for more than four decades.
Invitations to the Honoring Reception for SWAIA Fellows and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners are provided to the recipients, their families as well as individual members of SWAIA at the Silver and Gold Circle levels, and business members at the Steward, Benefactor and Patron levels.
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
2006
RC Gorman (Navajo)
Lee Marmon (Laguna Pueblo)
Grace Medicine Flower (Santa Clara/Pojoaque Pueblos)
Joyce Growing Thunder Fogarty (Assiniboine Sioux)
2005
Lucy Lowden (Jemez Pueblo)
Josephine Nahohai (Zuni Pueblo)
Joe Sando (Jemez Pueblo)
Fritz Scholder (Luiseno)
Ruth Schultz
2004
Ignacia Duran (Tesuque Pueblo)
Dextra Quotskuyva (Hopi)
Ramoncita Sandoval (San Juan Pueblo)
Clara Sherman (Navajo)
2003
Harrison Begay (Navajo)
Lucy Lewis (Acoma Pueblo)
Matilda Thomas (Tohono O'Odham)
Jose Rey Toledo (Jemez Pueblo)
2002
Bob Chavez (Cochiti Pueblo)
Julian Lovato (Santo Domingo Pueblo)
Alex Seotewa (Zuni Pueblo)
Lucy Whitehorse (Navajo)
2001
Pop Chalee (Taos Pueblo)
Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee)
Geronima Montoya (San Juan Pueblo)
Rose Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo)
1999
Kenneth Begay (Navajo)
Fred Kabotie (Hopi)
Julia Jumbo (Navajo)
Nampeyo (Hopi)
Patrick Swazo-Hinds (Tesuque Pueblo)
1998
Marie Zieu Chino (Acoma Pueblo)
Helen Cordero (Cochiti Pueblo)
Woody Crumbo (Potowatamie)
Carl Gorman (Navajo)
1997
Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara Pueblo)
1996
Charles Loloma (Hopi)
Margret Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo)
1995
Allen Houser (Apache)
Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso)
Lifetime Achievement recipient weaver Luci White-horse and friend Kathleen Foutz enjoy each other's company at the 2002 Santa Fe Indian Market Lifetime Achievement and Fellowship Honoring Reception.
Lifetime Achievement Award winners read like a "Who's Who" of Native American artists. Maria Martinez. Allan Houser. Pop Chalee. Lloyd Kiva New.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards are presented at the Honoring Reception, SWAIA's event that officially opens Santa Fe Indian Market. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners are given the opportunity to speak at this ceremony and it is typically the most moving event of Indian Market weekend.
In 2002, Lucy Whitehorse was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Whitehorse does not speak English, only Navajo. Her daughter, therefore, translated Ms. Whitehorse's comments for the audience.
Another 2002 recipient, Bob Chavez, is a Bataan Death March survivor. After he was presented his award, Mr. Chavez noted in his comments that the Death March got to be "a little rough." He implored the Great Spirit, promising that if he were allowed to survive the ordeal, he would then dedicate his life to art. When he returned to New Mexico, he went back to his alma mater, St. Catherine's Indian School in Santa Fe. He established the Art Department at St. Catherine's and ran it for more than four decades.
Invitations to the Honoring Reception for SWAIA Fellows and Lifetime Achievement Award Winners are provided to the recipients, their families as well as individual members of SWAIA at the Silver and Gold Circle levels, and business members at the Steward, Benefactor and Patron levels.
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
2006
RC Gorman (Navajo)
Lee Marmon (Laguna Pueblo)
Grace Medicine Flower (Santa Clara/Pojoaque Pueblos)
Joyce Growing Thunder Fogarty (Assiniboine Sioux)
2005
Lucy Lowden (Jemez Pueblo)
Josephine Nahohai (Zuni Pueblo)
Joe Sando (Jemez Pueblo)
Fritz Scholder (Luiseno)
Ruth Schultz
2004
Ignacia Duran (Tesuque Pueblo)
Dextra Quotskuyva (Hopi)
Ramoncita Sandoval (San Juan Pueblo)
Clara Sherman (Navajo)
2003
Harrison Begay (Navajo)
Lucy Lewis (Acoma Pueblo)
Matilda Thomas (Tohono O'Odham)
Jose Rey Toledo (Jemez Pueblo)
2002
Bob Chavez (Cochiti Pueblo)
Julian Lovato (Santo Domingo Pueblo)
Alex Seotewa (Zuni Pueblo)
Lucy Whitehorse (Navajo)
2001
Pop Chalee (Taos Pueblo)
Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee)
Geronima Montoya (San Juan Pueblo)
Rose Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo)
1999
Kenneth Begay (Navajo)
Fred Kabotie (Hopi)
Julia Jumbo (Navajo)
Nampeyo (Hopi)
Patrick Swazo-Hinds (Tesuque Pueblo)
1998
Marie Zieu Chino (Acoma Pueblo)
Helen Cordero (Cochiti Pueblo)
Woody Crumbo (Potowatamie)
Carl Gorman (Navajo)
1997
Pablita Velarde (Santa Clara Pueblo)
1996
Charles Loloma (Hopi)
Margret Tafoya (Santa Clara Pueblo)
1995
Allen Houser (Apache)
Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso)