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]
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]
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.
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 |