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Canku Ota |
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(Many Paths) |
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An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America |
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December 14, 2002 - Issue 76 |
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Miss NCAI Scholarship Pageant |
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by Alyssa Burhans Miss NCAI Scholarship
Pageant Coordinator
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Photo 1-Karen-Irene
Serna, Gila River Indian Community, Miss NCAI 2002; Photo-2
L to R: Tamara James, Yakama Indian Nation, Miss Congeniality; Karen-Irene
Serna, Gila River Indian Community, Miss NCAI 2002; Alicia Childs, Tohono
O'odham Nation, Miss NCAI Runner-Up, Best Talent. Photo credit: Joe
Guzman Photography, San Diego, CA
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 The
34th Annual Miss National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Scholarship
Pageant was held in San Diego, November 9-11, 2002, in conjunction with
the annual NCAI convention. NCAI was founded in 1944 and is the oldest
as well as the largest tribal government organization in the United
States, which serves as a forum for consensus-based policy development
among its membership. The Miss NCAI Scholarship Pageant was created
to recognize outstanding young Indian women and was first held in 1969
making it the longest running pageant for American Indian women. The
Miss NCAI Pageant focuses on both traditional and contemporary knowledge
of tribal culture, government, current tribal issues, and the current
challenges that face American Indian Nations. This year, five contestants vied for the prestige and the title of Miss NCAI. Prior to pageant night, the contestants competed in an essay competition, were interviewed by a panel of judges, and made several public appearances. On pageant night, each of the contestants competed in the talent showcase, as well as the evening gown and impromptu portions of the event. The talent showcase highlighted the unique cultures and the diversity of Indian Country. Alicia Childs from the Tohono O’odham Nation (Arizona) sang the National Anthem in the Tohono O'odham language and another song titled "The Children's Shrine," dedicated to the young children that lost their lives attempting to cross into the U.S. over the southern border of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Amber Ebarb, a member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, performed a two-part piece that symbolized Native Alaskans' life in two cultures. The first part consisted of a Tlingit entrance song and dance in full regalia and was followed by a performance of an excerpt from Weber's Grand Duo Concertante for clarinet. Tamara James from the Yakama Indian Nation (Washington) performed the Feather Dance while her mother sang on stage with her. Karen-Irene Serna from the Gila River Indian Community (Arizona) sang a song she composed in the Akimel O'odham language; it was followed with a Pee-Posh blessing dance. Finally, Cinammon Rogers from the Hupa Valley Indian Tribe (California) spoke about the challenges her tribal community faces with regard to the dwindling water in the Klamath River and it’s effects on the salmon population.
The panel of judges included Mary Kim Titla (San Carlos Apache) news reporter with Channel 12 News in Phoenix; Apesanahkwat (Menominee) actor; Letha Lamb (Gila River Indian Community) of Whirlwind Productions; and Cory Witherall (Navajo) professional race car driver. To request further information about the Miss NCAI Scholarship Pageant Program, qualifications on becoming a Miss NCAI Contestant, or to request an appearance, please contact:
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Ponka-We
Victors, from the Ponca and Tohono O’odham Nations, passed the
title of Miss NCAI to Karen-Irene Serna of the Gila River Indian Community
in a final culmination of the 3-day festivities. Serna will carry the
title of Miss NCAI 2002-2003. She was awarded a generous $5000 scholarship
to continue her studies at the South Mountain Community College where
she is majoring in English and Art. Alicia Childs was the runner-up
and also the recipient of the Best Talent Award. Rounding out the awards
was Tamara James, who was awarded Miss Congeniality from her peers.
Serna will serve as a goodwill ambassador for NCAI and Indian Country,
as well as to promote cross-cultural awareness to further the understanding
of the diversity and challenges of Indian Nations.|
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| Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. | ||
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Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry. |
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The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the |
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Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 of Paul C. Barry. |
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All Rights Reserved. |
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