The following story was written and reported by Rick Huff. All content © Native Sun News.
Kansas Begaye (Dine Nation) of Waterflow, New Mexico.
Miss Indian World crowned at Gathering of Nations
By Rick Huff
ALBUQUERQUE - Scoring consistently well in the areas of impromptu interviews, speaking before an audience and expressing herself culturally and traditionally through writing, stage presentation and dance is what it takes to become Miss Indian World.
It was her kind of upper-rung performance that enabled Kansas Begaye (Dine Nation) of Waterflow, New Mexico to earn the title this past weekend at the 30th anniversary edition of the Gathering Of Nations. She takes over the duties from Jessa Rae Growing Thunder (Ft. Peck Assiniboine/Sioux).
“Jessa has been particularly effective and inspiring this year,” says MIW Executive Director Melonie Mathews, adding, “She also kept smiling through the many snow days at the Durango airport and being cursed with her luggage repeatedly not arriving places with her! It’s a good thing her crown and sash were carry-ons!!”
Founded in 1983, the Miss Indian World program is known for being far more than a mere pageant. It is a year-long ambassadorship “highway” running to and from indigenous people around the globe. As each Miss Indian World is called on to do, Ms. Begaye will travel widely throughout the coming twelve months and will participate in special events to which she is invited, powwows and Native American economic and business conferences of various types. This is the reason for the level of care taken in the screening process to determine the most qualified candidate. It is felt the exemplary young lady chosen must be “grounded and well rounded” in both worlds.
Director Mathews continues to marvel at the strong bonds made each year among the MIW contestants. “Always new discoveries about culture and tradition are made and many lasting friendships are created. It’s very gratifying to be in such a unifying and positive position.”
Not only is the role of Miss Indian World a full time job for the young lady who is awarded the title, the program that supports her is just as much a full time job for the MIW executive staff. From the myriad details of planning and coordinating her appearances and travel connections for her and her chaperones to the MIW Committee’s task of organizing of each year’s search for her successor, the work load is a daunting one that begins as soon as a few well-earned breaths of relief are taken following each year’s crowning.
Listed in the order of their contestant numbers and with their individual awards cited, the following young ladies competed in this year’s event: Winner of “Miss Congeniality” April Brannon Yazza (Dine & Zuni Pueblo), Mentmore, NM; Shelby Williams (Walker River Paiute/Western Shoshone/Navajo), Elko, NV; Ryanne White (Ojibway/Lakota), Whitefish Bay, Ontario, Canada; “First Runner-Up” & Winner of “Best Dancer” Brittany Clause (Cayuga/Mohawk), Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada; Alexis Aguilar (Seminole Tribe of Florida), Immokalee, FL; Jolene Lozier (Muckleshoot Tribe & the Confederated Tribes & Bands of the Yakima Nation), Enumclaw, WA; Winner of “Best Public Speaker” Baillie Redfern (Metis) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Rebecca Gue (Tsimpshian Nation, Gitlaan Tribe), Metlakatla, AK; “Second Runner-Up” and Winner of “Best Traditional Talent Presentation” Yonenyakenht Jesse Brant (Mohawk Turtle Clan), Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada; Yi-see-mah Channing Concho (Hopi/Laguna/Acoma), Albuquerque, NM; Heather Miranda (Pala Band of Mission Indians/Ute), Pala, CA; “Miss Indian World” and Winner of “Best Interview” Kansas K. Begaye (Dine Nation), Waterflow, NM; Yotakahron Christa Jonathan (Mohawk), Six Nations of the Grand River Territory; Norene Sampson (Warm Springs/Yakima), Warm Springs, OR; Winner of “Best Essay” Tonantzin Miranda (Chichimeca), Sacramento, CA and Natasha Watson (Shoshone/Bannock), Blackfoot, ID.
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