TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS
Stuart Competes for Miss Indian World Title
by Tiffany Dawn Stuart, miss_siletz_03_04@hotmail.com
Competition for the Miss Indian
World 2004-2005 title was held April
21-24, 2004, in Albuquerque, N.M.
During this four-day competition, I,
Tiffany Dawn Stuart, Miss Siletz 2003-
2004, educated Indian Country and the
public on the Siletz Indians.
On April 21, I met the other 16
contestants: Robyn Bisonette (Northern
Cheyenne/Ojibwe) from Billings,
Mont.; Viola Brooks, Miss Hoopa
Valley (Hoopa Valley, Karuk, and
Yurok) from Arcata, Calif.; Erica
Cleaver, Miss World Eskimo Indian
Olympics Queen (Louden Tribal
Council/Athabascan) from Galena,
Alaska; Deanna Frost, previous Miss
Indian Colorado (Southern Ute,
Northern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and
Shosone) from Ignacio, Colo.
Cherelee Hall, Florida Miss
Seminole (Seminole Tribe of Florida)
from Clewiston, Fla.; Eileen Hill
(White Mountain Apache/Navajo) from
McNary, Ariz.; Elizabeth Johnny-John
(Iroquois/Seneca) from Steamburg,
N.Y.; DeeVonda Largo (Dine) from
Bloomfield, N.M./Rio Rancho, N.M.
Dawn Little Thunder, Miss Black
Hills (Cheyenne River Lakota) from
Eagle Butte, S.D.; Autaquay Peters
(Mashpee Wampanoag) from Clelsea,
Maine; Ivy Scott, Miss Indian Canada
(Piikani Nation of the Blackfoot
Confederacy) from Calgary, Alberta,
Canada; Erin Shije (Zia Pueblo/Jemez
Pueblo) from Zia Pueblo, N.M.
Delana Smith (Ojibwe, Red Lake
Nation) from Red Lake, Minn.; Ashley
Thomas-Jeffery, Miss Six Nations
(Mohawk) from Caledonia, Ontario,
Canada; Lena Tucker, Choctaw Indian
Princess (Aleut/Mississippi Band of
Choctaw Indians) from Philadelphia,
Miss; and Bazil-Lu Windy Boy, Miss
Yakama (Yakama/Chippewa/Cree)
from Yakama/Mattawa, Wash.
This first morning included
registration, introductions, and public
speaking at the University of New
Mexico (UNM). During registration, I
turned in 1, 000 raffle tickets. Thanks
to Aunt Vai Hibdon, Aunt Selene
Rilatos, Aunt Shirley Walker, and Mom
and Dad (Marlene and Thomas Stuart)
for helping me sell tickets. Thanks also
to all who bought them.
18
a
Siletz News
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For the public speaking competi
tion, each contestant had one minute to
answer the impromptu question, “Who
inspires you and why?’’ My answer was
my mother because she encourages me
in areas such as education.
Lunch was then provided before the
five-minute interview. This closed
interview included five judges and one
judge reading the three questions to me
directly. The questions were on my
goals, what it means to be Miss Indian
world, and how my traditional aspects
affect my life.
That evening, I enjoyed dinner at
the UNM Student Union Ballroom. My
dad came as my guest. At the dinner,
the raffle tickets were drawn for prizes.
My Aunty Shirley won a DVD player
and my Aunt Tiny Jane Rilatos won a
necklace. This also was a time to get to
know the other contestants and take
group photos.
April 22 was a day of rehearsal for
the traditional talent presentation. I
exhibited the Feather Dance in my
three-minute presentation. Bud Lane
and Robert Kentta made a recording of
feather dance songs consisting of an
introduction song and my great
grandpa Archie Ben and my great
grandpa Hoxie Simmons songs. I talked
one minute on the importance of keeping
this ceremony alive and I danced the
last two minutes. All contestants were
at the Albuquerque Convention Center
all day for two rehearsals.
Then at 7 p.m., the traditional talent
presentation show began. This portion
of the contest has the biggest percentage
of the overall score. Performances
included the story of the dream catcher,
women’s shuffle for the Mohawks, an
explanation on the different uses of com,
and many other wonderful tribal talents.
April 23 started like every morning
- up at 6:30 a.m. to be at the event by
8 a.m. I’m glad my hotel was close to
the PITT because many other con
testants ran into trouble with traffic.
All contestants were in their
traditional dress for the Miss Indian
World breakfast. The Native American
Student Services program put on this
breakfast at the UNM Student Union
Ballroom. All contestants received a
gift bag after we introduced ourselves
to the student body that was present.
June 2004
Then it was back on the bus as we headed
to the PITT for grand entry at noon.
When grand entry started, I was just
speechless at all of the dancers in the
four directions. The Miss Indian World
contestants were behind Onawa Lynn
Lacy, Miss Indian World 2003-2004, in
front of the grand entry line.
I wore my buckskin dress with a
feather dance skirt and Miss Siletz crown.
Most contestants had such defined dress
from their tribe. After six hours of being
in the spotlight, we (my Grandma
Maxine and my parents) headed out to
dinner and rest.
The dance competition took place
after the 7 p.m. grand entry on April 23.
We were split into two groups. Each one
got one pow-wow song with four push
ups. I was in the second group, so I got
to see many different styles of dance
before I danced.
The contestants were instructed to
interpret the song, meaning we didn’t
have to dance pow-wow style to the
song. I danced feather dance style to
the pow-wow song with a feather dance
skirt. I placed third in this portion of
the competition. After this long day, my
family and I headed back to the hotel
because we had another long day ahead
of us the next day.
Bright and early (again at 6:30 a.m.),
I woke up to get ready for the rehearsal
for the crowning The practice for the
crowning and Onawa’s dance started at
8 a.m. Brunch - breakfast burritos and
fruit - was provided before we started
to get ready for grand entry at noon.
Now in New Mexico, regardless of
where you are, there’s “chili” and I call
it salsa. Even at McDonald’s, there’s a
value meal with a hamburger with
“chili” on it. At the breakfast, there was
“chili,” or salsa, to put on our burritos.
The noon grand entry started with
a bald eagle in the arena. The dancers
populated overnight; when almost all
the dancers were in the arena I had less
than a foot of space all around me. I
wore my buckskin pow-wow dress with
a feather dance skirt and basket cap.
After the tiny tot division, we left to eat
and rest.
It was coming down to that moment.
Grand entry started at 7 p.m. and the
crowning proceeded after grand entry
and a musical performance. Each of the
Tiffany Stuart with Delana Smith,
Miss Indian World 2004-2005
contestants was introduced. When my
name was called, I felt a rush through
my body. This feeling of being proud
of who I am and whom I represent gave
me this great feeling inside.
Awards and crowning came and the
results were: second runner-up was
DeeVonda Largo, first runner-up was .
Ivy Scott, and Delana Smith was crowned
Miss Indian World 2004-2005.
I was proud to represent Siletz/
coastal people, my family, my school
(Haskell Indian Nations University),
and myself. Thanks to everyone who
believed in me to run for the title of
Miss Indian World. This experience is
one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Thanks to God for watching over
my family and myself. A big thanks
goes out to my parents, Aunt Vai, Aunt
Selene, Rena Brandt, Sam Lynch,
Grandma Maxine, Aunt Shirley, my
brother and his fiancé - Thomas Stuart
Jr. and Cheryl James, Robert, Bud,
Lynette Hibdon, Patty Grant, Ricky
Cliff, and Justina Abrahmson.
For more pictures and/or details on
the Miss Indian World Pageant, log onto
www.gatheringofnations.com . Thanks
again for all the support! Hum’chi.