Onondga Communications
By Denise Waterman
Music affects the heart and soul, and was so profoundly illustrated this month by NAMMY, Native American Music Award, winner Star Nayea. She shared her music, songwriting, passions and life experiences with the students of the Onondaga Nation School.
Following the award ceremony in Niagara Falls, the community of Akwesasne sponsored Star’s trip into Haudenosaunee Territory for her more formal presentation of song and survival. Our school gladly accepted the opportunity to have Star Nayea for an hour of entertaining prior to her heading “Up North.”
Nayea’s beautiful Native appearance along with her full of life personality helped paved inroad as she spoke to children from all age levels. As Star Nayea spoke to the Onondaga Nation School students, she reinforced how lucky they were to live in a Native community, to know their family- especially grandparents, and how gifted they were because the ancestors saved and treasured their clan family heritage for them. Star Nayea grew up without the assets of knowing “who you really are” because she was adopted into a non-native home as an infant. The adoptive home in Detroit was an abusive one and music gave her hope to make it from day to day.
“Music, the singing of compassionate lyrics helped to heal her soul through song”, says Star. Ms. Nayea never gave up singing which ultimately helped her matured into an outstanding Onhgwahonhwe songwriter.
Star Nayea recently released her sixth album entitled “Silenced My Tongue,” this past spring and received a 2008 NAMMY Award for Song Writer of the Year. We give thanks for the many paths that eventually lead you to the Onondaga Nation – Niawenha Star Nayea.
Cite resource: http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/