Miss Indian World

Founded in 1983, Miss Indian World is a five-day competition held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[1] The event is part of the annual Gathering of Nations, the largest Native American powwow in the world.[2][3] Young women from across North America represent their tribes and communities as they compete to win the crown. Rather than emphasizing contestants' outward appearance, Miss Indian World aims to select a winner who demonstrates a deep understanding of her culture, traditions, people and history.[4][5]

Nicole Alek'aq Colbert, Miss Indian World 2008, at the Indian Summer festival in Milwaukee

Once awarded the title, Miss Indian World acts as a cultural representative, promoting individually-selected platforms, sharing Native American culture, and representing the annual Gathering of Nations event.[6] This role is important to the native community because it helps perpetuate traditions and overturn negative stereotypes.[5]

In addition to the title, Miss Indian World also wins prize money, the Miss Indian shawl and banner, a four-day ocean cruise, and a travel stipend to attend powwows, conferences, workshops, and festivals.[1] Previous Miss Indian World winners have continued to be sought-after speakers, even after they have passed on the crown.[7][8]

Competition requirements

To qualify for Miss Indian World, contestants must be native or indigenous Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 as age requirements were updated for the 2018 pageant[9] with a verifiable tribal affiliation. They must also be single, never married, and have no dependents.[1]

Each contestant participates in four categories: Public Speaking and Personal Interviews, Traditional Talent Presentation, Dance Competition, and Essay. Contestants are evaluated based on their skill, as well as cultural knowledge about tribes and traditions.[10] The woman who accumulates the most points in each category will hold the Miss Indian World title for one year.

Winner history
Year Miss Indian World Tribe
2023 Tori McConnell Yurok Tribe/Karuk Tribe
2022 Tashina Red Hawk Rosebud Sioux Tribe
2019–21 Cheyenne Kippenberger Seminole Tribe of Florida
2018 Taylor Susan[11] White Mountain Apache/Walker River Paiute Tribes
2017 Raven Swamp [12] Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Resigned February 2018)
2016 Danielle Ta'Sheena Finn Standing Rock Sioux
2015 Cheyenne Brady Sac and Fox /Cheyenne /Pawnee /Otoe / Kiowa-Apache /Hidatsa/Arikara /Tonkawa[13]
2014 Taylor Thomas Shoshone Bannock[14]
2013 Kansas K. Begaye Navajo Nation[15]
2012 Jessa Rae GrowingThunder-Slivers Ft. Peck Assiniboine and Sioux[16]
2011 Marjorie Tahbone Inupiaq and Kiowa[17]
2010 Dakota Brant Mohawk[18]
2009 Brooke Grant Hoopa, Yurok, Karuk and Chippewa[19]
2008 Nicole Alek'aq (Colbert) Kaganak Yup'ik[20]
2007 Megan Young Poarch Band of Creek[21]
2006 Violet (John) Duncan Plains Cree/Taíno
2005 Cassie Thomas Seneca Nation
2004 Delana Smith Red Lake Band of Ojibwe
2003 Onawa Lacy Navajo Nation/Mescalero Apache
2002 Tia Smith Cayuga/Iroquois of the Six Nations Reserve
2001 Ke Aloha May Cody Alo White Mountain Apache[22]
2000 Lillian ‘Cepa’ Sparks Rosebud and Lakota Sioux
1999 Mitzi Tolino White Mountain Apache/Navajo
1998 April Whittemore Lumbee
1997 Shayai Lucero Pueblo of Acoma/Pueblo of Laguna
1996 Andrea Jack Tlingit/Yupik Eskimo
1995 Crystal Pewo-Lightfoot Apache of Oklahoma/Kiowa
1994 J.C. Lonetree Ho-Chunk Nation
1993 Gloria Snow Stoney Nakoda First Nation
1992 Lanette Asepermy Cheyenne/Kiowa
1991 Janet Saupitty Comanche
1990 LoVina Louie Coeur d'Alene/ Okanagan & Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribes
1989 Tammy Deann Billey Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
1988 Prairie Rose Little Sky Pine Ridge Indian Reservation/Oglala Sioux
1987 Jovanna Plenty (August – April) Cree/Assiniboine
1987 Celeste Tootoosis (April – August) Cree/Assiniboine
1986 Lisa Ewauk Nakoda/Dakota
1985 Shelly Valdez Pueblo of Laguna
1984 Codi High Elk Cheyenne River Sioux

References
  1. "Miss Indian World". www.gatheringofnations.com. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  2. McKnight, Zoe (23 April 2016). "Miss Indian World contestants promote native culture | Toronto Star". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  3. "Report: Miss Indian World: The Original All-American Girl; Face Paint, Eagle Feathers, Deerskins, Drums and Dancing. Welcome to the World's Biggest Powwow Where 50,000 Native Americans Gather to Celebrate Their Heritage and Crown This Year's Queen", The Mirror, London, June 28, 2003, archived from the original on January 11, 2018
  4. "No swimsuit competition for Miss Indian World". america.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  5. "Report: Miss Indian World: the original all-American girl; Face paint, eagle feathers, deerskins, drums and dancing... Welcome to the world's biggest powwow where 50,000 Native Americans gather to celebrate their heritage and crown this year's queen. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  6. O'Connell, Max B. "Oglala woman has eyes set on Miss Indian World crown". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  7. Olmstead, Donna. "Miss Indian World works to instill pride in Native American heritage". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  8. "We Day 2014: Grown-Ups, You Missed Out!". 2 October 2014.
  9. "Miss Indian World".
  10. Sisk, Amy R. "Standing Rock woman to compete for Miss Indian World title". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  11. New Miss Indian World crowned: Taylor Susan of the White Mountain Apache/Walker River Paiute Tribes, Native News Online, April 28, 2018
  12. 2017-2018 Miss Indian World from http://www.gatheringofnations.com (accessed 12/01/2017)
  13. "American Press - Home". www.americanpress.com. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  14. rcjohnson (2014-04-28). "Taylor Thomas Crowned Miss Indian World". Indian Country Today Media Network.com. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  15. "A Chat with Miss Indian World, Kansas Begaye". PowWows.com - Native American Pow Wows. 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  16. "Jessa Rae Growing Thunder Crowned 2012 Miss Indian World". Indian Country News. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  17. babrams (2011-05-30). "Talking With Miss Indian World Marjorie Tahbone". Indian Country Today Media Network.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  18. "Mohawk, Former Miss Indian World, Gardener and Graduate: A Visit with Teyotsihstokwathe Dakota Brant". PowWows.com - Native American Pow Wows. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  19. admin (2009-06-05). "Northern California Native wins first Miss Indian World title for tribe". Indian Country Today Media Network.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  20. Harris, Mike. "Gathering Of Nations Powwow Celebrates Native American Culture, Dance And Song - Western Travel Magazine | News | Rodeos | History | Towns | Old West | New West". oldwestnewwest.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  21. "Miss Indian World at 30 - Native Peoples - March-April 2014 - Native Peoples". www.nativepeoples.com. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  22. "LDS Church News - Miss Indian World is cultural ambassador". Church News. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
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