Musicians Troy Cassar-Daley and Christine Anu have been honoured at the national Indigenous music, sport, entertainment and community awards at the Sydney Opera House.

They have won the night's major awards, those for male and female artist of the year.

Anu took out the award despite having taken a two-year break to have her second child.

"So much for out of sight, out of mind," she said.

Cathy Freeman has been named sportswoman of the year and Anthony Mundine the sportsman of the year.

Mundine edged out sprinter Patrick Johnson, who has clocked the fastest time over 100 metres this year.

Olympic hurdler Kyle Vander-Kuyp was awarded a Deadly for his contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sport.

Rhys Wesser, from the NRL premiers, the Penrith Panthers, won the Deadly for outstanding achievement in football, edging out fellow rugby league player Nathan Blacklock, Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and Wallaby Wendell Sailor.

The acting talents of Deb Mailman and Aaron Pederson have earned them each a Deadly.

The Deadly for album of the year has gone to Shakaya, band of the year to NoKTuRNL, country artist of the year to Todd Williams and single of the year to outback hip hop act, The Wilcannia Mob for Down River.