Program Information
The Michigan Heritage Awards honor individuals who continue their family and community folk traditions with excellence through practice and teaching, or individuals who are recognized as outstanding community leaders in the maintenance, documentation, or presentation of traditional arts. The program was established in 1985 to call attention to Michigan's exceptional tradition bearers and supporters of traditional culture whose contributions to our state's heritage had not been recognized previously. Awards are annually presented to Michiganders who participate in a wide range of cultural practices, both to the practitioners and to those who work to support or document those traditions. These include, for example, material culture (carving, fiber art traditions, pottery, foodways, dress), performance (music, dance, storytelling), and community leadership (festival production, archival documentation, folk arts administration). Awardees receive an award plaque, special legislative tribute from the State of Michigan, and a $1,000 stipend.
A panel of invited specialists reviews the applications in early January. They look for strong evidence of community or family support, excellence of contribution or artistry, mastery of art form, a description of the tradition, and an explanation of the meaning and value of the tradition to the particular family or community.
Announcements of the awardees are made in February. Awards are conferred both at a group awards ceremony and at special ceremonies in the awardees' home communities.
For more information about the Michigan Heritage Awards Program, email us at MITraditionalArts@msu.edu.
Nominate
Nominations are usually submitted by someone who knows the nominee well; family members, friends, community members, and even students of honorees have submitted nominations.
Nominations must include a completed nomination form, at least three letters of support from community members, a portrait-style photograph of the nominee, a description of the tradition bearer's skill, and a personal biography. Depending on the tradition, the nomination package must also include photographs or physical samples of the nominee's work and/or audio (CDs, Bandcamp or SoundCloud links, etc.) or video clips of their performances (YouTube, Vimeo, or other web links accepted).
Nominations and supporting materials must be postmarked or submitted digitally (MITraditionalArts@msu.edu) by the first Monday in January each year.
MHA Nomination Form (PDF) MHA Nomination Form (DOCX)
Awards
2024
Kitty Donohoe
Ann Arbor (Washtenaw County), Michigan traditional songs and lore
Great Lakes African American Quilters' Network
Metro Detroit (Wayne County), African American quilting
Rosa Lopez Killips
St. Johns (Ingham County), ballet folklórico and Spanish flamenco dance
2023
Sheila Graziano
Chelsea (Washtenaw County), clogging
Lorenzo Lopez
Lansing (Ingham County), ballet folklórico and Latino dance
Pretty Shaky String Band
East Lansing (Ingham County), old-time music
Ashoka Rao
Swartz Creek (Genesee County), Kathak dance
2022
Alfred Bruce Bradley
Flint (Genesee County), tap dance
Drs. William and Yvonne Lockwood
Chelsea (Washtenaw County), documentation, preservation, and publication of Michigan traditional arts, folklife, and culture
Ara Topouzian
Bloomfield Hills (Oakland County), Armenian kanun playing
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
Metro Detroit (Wayne County), Ukrainian bandura music
2021
Anny Hubbard
Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa County), birch bark cut out work
Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard
Detroit (Wayne County), Gospel radio announcing
2020
Bill Church
Hopkins (Allgean County), Storytelling and Pottawatomi/Bodéwadmi tribal leadership
Nic Gareiss
Lansing (Ingham County), percussive dance
Paavo Nurmi
Hessel (Mackinac County), Finnish distaff carving
Patricia Shackleton
Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa County) and Okemos (Ingham County), Birch bark cut out work
2019
Elgia Hickok
Sears (Osceola County), hammered dulcimer playing and founder of the Original Dulcimer Players Club
Roger LaBine
Trout Creek (Ontonagon County), Wild rice (manoomin) cultivation and harvesting
Martin Solis, Jr.
Melvindale (Wayne County), Conjunto music
2018
Mick Gavin
Redford (Wayne County), Irish fiddling and melodeon playing
Neil Woodward
Howell (Livingston County), Michigan traditional music and storytelling
2017
Bruce Bauman
Remus (Mecosta County), Traditional Arts Advocacy, Education, And Presentation
Dan Gorno
formerly of Bellaire (Antrim County), Traditional percussive and waltz dancing and dance calling
Anshu Varma
East Lansing (Ingham County), Mehndi and Indian/Indian American cultural traditions
2016
The Costabella Cloggers
Mecosta and Isabella Counties, Team clogging
David Dutcher
Hessel (Mackinac County), Anishinaabe beadwork, leatherwork, and copper jewelry
Carole Howard
Mount Pleasant (Isabella County), Square dance calling
Matt Kazmierski
Plymouth (Wayne County), Marimba building
Thomas Kelly
Detroit (Wayne County), A Cappella Gospel singing
Gary Tassier
Cedarville (Mackinac County), Traditional wooden boatbuilding and restoration
Paul Wilson
Hessel (Mackinac County), Traditional wooden boat building
2015
Ronald Ahrens
Three Oaks (Berrien County), Lacemaking and fiber arts
Stephen Stier
Empire (Leelanau County), Barn preservation and timber frame building arts
2014
Karl Byarski
Kinde (Huron County), Community documentation and collection of traditional music
Danny Johnston
Harbor Springs (Emmet County), Fiddling
Alan Lomax
formerly of Safety Harbor, Florida, Documentation and collection of traditional music and folklife
2013
Carlson's of Fishtown
Leland (Leelanau County), Great Lakes commercial fishing traditions and fishing foodways
Wesley V. Cooper
Fremont (Newaygo County), Bamboo fly rod making
2012
Johnnie Bassett
Oak Park (Oakland County), Blues guitar and vocals
Paulette Brockington
Highland Park (Wayne County), Lindy hop and swing dance
The Ship's Company, Friends Good Will
South Haven (Van Buren County), Marlinespike seamanship and Great Lakes maritime traditions
Los Bandits
Plainwell (Allegan County), Tejano music
2011
Deborah Caryl
Davison (Genesee County), Sheep shearing
Calvin Cooke
Atlanta, Georgia (formerly Detroit, Michigan), Sacred steel guitar
Gaylord Klancnik
formerly of Metro Detroit (Wayne County), Slovenian polka music and band leading
2010
Alberta Adams
Detroit (Wayne County), Blues singing
The Swedish-American Community of Brevort, Michigan
Brevort (Mackinac County), Swedish Midsommar pole and celebration
Renne "Wasson" Dillard
Harbor Springs (Emmet County), Anishinaabe fiber arts
John Pigeon
Hopkins (Allegan County), Anishinaabe black ash basket making
2009
Willard C. Finch
Stockbridge (Ingham County), Architectural decorative painting and ornamental plasterwork
Les Ross, Sr.
Marquette (Marquette County), Lumberjack style harmonica playing
2008
Seikichi Iha
Lansing (Ingham County), Shido-kan Karate-do
Herb Nehring
Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County), Blacksmithing
Johnny Sarweh
Lansing (Ingham County), Qanun playing
2007
William McDonald
Delton (Barry County), Waterfowl decoy carving
Ron Sherry
Clinton Township (Macomb County), Iceboat building
2006
Abdul Karim Bader
Farmington Hills (Oakland County), Oud playing
Herman Chapman
St. Clair Shores (Macomb County), Model boat building
Ernie Hawks
Lansing (Ingham County), Ornamental architectural plaster
2005
J.W. Westcott Company and Crew
Detroit (Wayne County), Maritime occupational traditions
Ia Moua Yang
Warren (Macomb County), Hmong textiles
2004
Messiah Quilters
Marquette (Marquette County), Quilting
James Rice
Hudson (Lenawee County), Leather working and saddle making
Stas Wisniach
Farmington (Oakland County), Polish folk music and accordion playing
2003
Richard Dorson
Bloomington, Indiana, Folklore documentation and publication
Laina Marie Lampi
Clawson (Oakland County), Finnish rag rug weaving
Ronald J. Paquin
St. Ignace (Mackinac County), Birch bark canoe making
2002
Lois Bettesworth
Flushing (Genesee County), Old-time fiddling
Paul Lahti
L'Anse (Baraga County), Finnish rag rug weaving
Giovanni Battista Perona
Calumet (Houghton County), Rhythm bones playing
Adell "Bea" Raisanen
Hartland (Livingston County), Finnish rag rug weaving
Mary Schafer
Flushing (Genesee County), Quilting and quilt education
2001
Restore Douglass
Big Rapids (Mecosta County)
Gertrude Kurath
Ann Arbor (Washtenaw County), Documentation of Great Lakes Native dance traditions and culture
Oren and Toni Tikkanen
Alpha (Iron County), Promotion and documentation of traditional music and dance in the Upper Peninsula
Glen VanAntwerp
Tustin (Osceola County), Cedar fan carving
2000
Henry Engelhard
Bay Port (Huron County), Founding, supporting, and promoting the Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival
Deacon Albert Likely
Detroit (Wayne County), Singing, leading, and teaching lined out, metered hymns
Mary Torsky
Cedarville (Mackinac County), Pysanky decorating
Irene Vuorenmaa
Ironwood (Gogebic County), Finnish rag rug weaving
1999
Cadieux Cafe Feather Bowling Club
Detroit (Wayne County), Feather bowling
Melvin Kangas
Pelkie (Baraga County), Finnish kantele playing
Frederick Wenson
Farmington Hills (Oakland County), Palm frond braiding
1998
Anna Crampton
Haslett (Ingham County), Anishinaabe black ash basket making
Lois LaFernier
L'Anse (Baraga County), Ojibwa cultural and historic preservation leadership
R. W. "Bob" Summers
Traverse City (Grand Traverse County), Bamboo fly rod building and preservation
1997
Paul Hagemeister
Dryden (Lapeer County), Timber-frame barn building and restoration
William Stevens
Charlevoix (Charlevoix County), traditional Grange Hall music
Lula Williams
Detroit (Wayne County), Quilting
1996
Wade and Julia Mainer
Flint (Genesee County), Appalachian old-time, bluegrass, and gospel music
Tony Martinez
Detroit (Wayne County), Ornamental ironwork
1995
Deonna Green
Remus (Mecosta County), Quilting and quilting education
D.J. Krogol
Lansing (Ingham County), Scottish Highland bagpiping
Ken Krum
Marshall (Calhoun County), Duck decoy carving
1994
Ellen Angman
Calumet (Houghton County), Finnish-American rag rug weaving
Eddie Burns
Detroit (Wayne County), Blues music
Nadim Dlaikan
Southgate (Wayne County), Arab-American music and ney making
Pushpa Jain
Okemos (Ingham County), Meh'ndi (henna application)
Rev. Czeslaw Michal Krysa
Orchard Lake (Oakland County), Polish pisanki and cultural traditions
1993
Jewell Frances Gillespie
Beaver Island (Charlevoix County), Irish music
Anna Lassila
Mohawk (Keweenaw County), Finnish-American cultural traditions
1992
Yvonne Walker Keshick
Levering (Emmet County), Anishinaabe porcupine quill work
Daniel Rapelje
Lansing (Ingham County), Pigeon breeding, training, and flying
Aaron "Little Sonny" Willis
Detroit (Wayne County), Blues harmonica playing
1991
Captain Edward C. Baganz
Grosse Pointe Park (Wayne County), Great Lakes maritime traditions and sea storytelling
Les Raber
Hastings (Barry County), Fiddling
1990
Dr. Mattie Moss Clark
Detroit (Wayne County), Gospel singing and composing
Dave Kober
Bear Lake (Manistee County), Ice fishing decoy carving
Sonia Maria Perez
Livonia (Wayne County), Piñata making
1989
Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong
Detroit (Wayne County), Blues and string band music
Amneh Baraka
Dearborn (Wayne County), Palestinian needlework
E.C. "Doc" Beck
Brighton (Livingston County), Collecting Michigan lumberjack songs and lore
The Quilter's of St. Mary's Church
Lake Leelanau (Leelanau County), Quilting
Agnes Rapp
Berrien Springs (Berrien County), Anishinaabe black ash basket making
Julia Wesaw
Hartford (Van Buren County), Anishinaabe black ash basket making
1988
Donna Esch
Fairview (Oscoda County), Quilting
Jay Stephan
Grayling (Crawford County), Guiding along the AuSable River and building AuSable River boats
Donald "Red Arrow" Stevens
Blanchard (Isabella County), Ojibwe cultural traditions and basket making
Jingo Viitala Vachon
Toivola (Houghton County), Finnish American storytelling and music
Edmund White Pigeon
Hopkins (Allegan County), Anishinaabe black ash basketmaking
Ivan Walton
Mount Pleasant (Isabella County), Education and documentation of Great Lakes maritime culture, music, and lore
Forrest "Jim" Wicks
McMillan (Luce County), Duck decoy carving
1986-1987
Perry Allen
Shepherd (Isabella County), Lumberjack songs and telling tall tales
Margarette Ernst
Harrison (Clare County), Square and round dance piano playing
Russell Johnson
Strongs (Chippewa County), Blacksmithing
Lawrence McCoy
Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa County), House party piano playing
Cecil McKenzie
Port Huron (St. Clair County), House party piano playing
Isaiah Ross
Flint (Genesee County), Blues music
Elman "Bud" Stewart
Alpena (Alpena County), Fish decoy carving
1985
Edith Bondie
Hubbard Lake (Alcona County), Anishinaabe black ash basket making
Thelma James
Detroit (Wayne County), Folklife education and folklore documentation
Frank Mattison
Smyrna (Ionia County), Fiddling
Art Moilanen
Mass City (Ontonagon County), Finnish American accordion playing
Eli "Little Elk" Thomas
Mount Pleasant (Isabella County), Anishinaabe black ash basket making, dancing, and storytelling
Sippie Wallace
Farmington Hills (Oakland County), Blues singing
