Pow-wow 2004 3
SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
Annual Royalty Pagent Is A Showcase For Talent
Tribal youth will travel this year representing Grand Ronde.
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Royalty Newly elected Tribal Royalty Princesses Leah Br isbois
(left) and Kayla Kneeland (right) were chosen to represent the Grand
Ronde Tribe for the 2004-2005 year. After the selection, the families
and friends of the Royalty (far left) joined the girls in an honor dance
around the pow-wow arena.
By Peta Tinda
Nine hopeful girls got up before
the crowd and were judged on their
dancing, regalia and their public
speaking ability.
The girls were competing for the
honor of representing the Grand
Ronde Tribes as part of the Tribal
Royalty, but only three were cho
sen to wear the crown.
Kayla Kneeland was elected to
wear the Senior Miss Grand Ronde
crown, Leah Brisbois to wear the
Jr. Miss crown and Melissa Biery
was chosen for Little Miss Grand
Ronde.
The girls now begin a year-long
commitment that will require im
mense patience and dedication, of
ten involving long hours on the road
away from home representing the
Tribe as official ambassadors of
goodwill. Their reward will be an
inimitable experience that will
teach them about life, respect, their
heritage and will be reflected in the
smiles and applause of the thou
sands of people they will meet in
the coming year.
The royalty elections were held on
Friday evening during the Annual
Grand Ronde contest pow-wow.
The judges were looking for certain
characteristics.
Mychal Leno, a royalty parent
and former Miss Grand Ronde from
1988-89, said: "Some of the things
that make a good princess are con
fidence, commitment and the abil
ity to hold one's head high."
"It's not easy to do," said Tribal
f 40 ' O
2004-2005 Jr. Miss Grand Ronde Leah Brisbois
Elder and Royalty Committee mem
ber Donna Casey. "You have to be
real dedicated. I think it's something
for them to look back on, some thing
they can tell they're kids about. The
girls learn a lot of respect for other
people, especially Elders and that's
real important," said Casey.
The judges were looking for a girl
that was self-assured and carried
herself with dignity.
"They have to move with a sense
of pride," said Leno.
It is also important for the girl to
know about their Tribal history and
be able to recognize their ancestry.
"We want someone
who is going to know
their ancestors," said
Leno.
The royalty court is
an important way for
the girls to learn about
their culture and heri
tage so that when
they grow up they will
have a connection
with their traditions.
"We also want them
to know we're here for
them and it's impor
tant for other people to
see that."
Since the Royalty is
expected to represent
the Tribe and is often
the only face that most
people see, it is essen
tial for the girls to handle public
speaking and be able to speak to
large crowds in clear, concise, voice.
"The public speaking aspect is
huge," said Leno. "It's a skill they
learn here that will stay with them
for the rest of their lives."
Royalty parents will tell you that
the experience of being chosen to
represent the Tribe has been ben
eficial for their children.
It makes their girls more articu
late, increases their self-esteem and
makes them more confident in their
own abilities.
"It has been really good for her,"
said parent Tracy Biery. Her
daughter Melissa had competed
before but this was her first year
to win. "She's more confident in
school, her speaking ability is
amazing and I credit that to being
in royalty," said Biery.
"The other girls give each other
confidence too, they get to know
each other and have become good
friends; it makes it less scary be
cause they have their friends their,
encouraging them. It has been re
ally, really good for her."
Q. 1 mi mi r it hi i - -
Little Miss Grand Ronde
Melissa Biery
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Grand Ronde Tribal Council members (1 to r) Reyn Leno, Valor ie Sheker
Robertson, Cheryle Kennedy, Jack Giffen, Jr. and Jan D. Reibach.
Honored Gros Ventre Tribal member Treston Joseph, age 7 , was featured on the
September 1 , 2003, cover of Smoke Signals. Upon his return to the Grand Ronde
Pow-wow in 2004, he was presented with a framed copy of his Smoke Signals cover
shot by Editor Brent Merrill, who took the original photograph.