Miss Indian America facts for kids
Miss Indian America was a special event held every year from 1953 to 1989. It was a pageant that celebrated young Native American women. This event was part of the annual All-American Indian Days festival in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Girls who entered the pageant were judged on many things. They showed their appearance and how well they could talk. They also shared their knowledge of their culture and tribal traditions. Contestants were also tested on their understanding of tribal, state, and federal governments. They also showed off their talents in traditional and modern tribal skills.
The young woman who won the Miss Indian America title became a special representative. She was seen as a cultural ambassador for Native Americans. Her job was to help people from Native American and non-Native American backgrounds understand each other better. She did this by giving speeches, appearing at public events, and joining important meetings with different governments.
Past Winners of Miss Indian America
This table lists the young women who won the Miss Indian America title each year. It also shows which Native American nation they belonged to.
Year | Winner | Nation |
---|---|---|
1989 | Wanda Johnson | Navajo |
1988 | Bobette Kay Wildcat | Shoshone |
1987 | Linda Kay Lupe | White Mountain Apache |
1986 | Audra Arviso | Navajo |
1985 | Jorja Frances Oberly | Osage-Commanche-Nez Perce |
1984 | Anne-Louise Willie | White Mountain Apache-Paiute |
1983 | Debbie Secakuku | Hopi |
1982 | Vivian Juan | Tohono O'odham |
1981 | Jerilyn Lebeau | Cheyenne River Sioux |
1980 | Melanie Tallmadge | Winnebago-Minnesota Sioux |
1978-9 | Susan Arkeketa | Otoe-Missouria/Muscogee Creek |
1977 | Gracie Welch | Mohave-Chemehuevi-Yavapai |
1976 | Kristine Rayola Harvey | White Mountain Apache |
1975 | Deana Jo Harragarra | Otoe-Kiowa |
1974 | Claire Manning | Shoshone-Paiute |
1973 | Maxine Norris | Tohono O'odham |
1972 | Louise Edmo | Shoshone-Bannock |
1971 | Nora Begay | Navajo |
1970 | Virginia Stroud | Keetoowah Cherokee |
1969 | Margery Haury | Cheyenne-Arapahoe-Navajo-Sioux |
1968 | Thomasine Hill | Crow-Pawnee |
1967 | Sarah Johnson | Navajo |
1966 | Wahleah Lujan | Taos Pueblo |
1965 | Marcelle Ahtone | Kiowa |
1964 | Michele Portwood | Arapaho |
1963 | Williamette Youpee | Sisseton-Yankton Dakota |
1962 | Ramona Soto | Klamath |
1961 | Brenda Bearchum | Northern Cheyenne |
1960 | Vivian Arviso | Navajo |
1959 | Delores Racine | Blackfeet |
1958 | Not held | |
1957 | Ruth Larson | Gros Ventre |
1956 | Sandra Gover | Skidi Pawnee |
1955 | Rita Ann McLaughlin | Hunkpapa Lakota |
1954 | Mary Louise Defender | Yanktonai Dakota |
1953 | Arlene Wesley | Yakama Nation |