Miss Indian Arizona Association seeks past titleholders
By Shondiin Silversmith
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, June 16, 2011
(Courtesy photos)
TOP PHOTO: Esther Pooley Stant, Diné, was Miss Indian Arizona for the year 1968-69.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Sweetie Cody, the 2010-11 Miss Indian Arizona.
According to Denise Homer, executive director, the program started in 1961 through the Arizona State Fair Commission and has operated continuously since then, and there are a total of 55 previous titleholders who are invited for special recognition at this year's event.
The association plans to highlight the titleholders at a parade and banquet scheduled Oct. 7 at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Chandler, Ariz.
"It's our way of trying to honor those women," Homer said.
The Miss Indian Arizona contest is first and foremost a scholarship program, with the winner receiving a $4,000 scholarship in addition to the title.
A new winner will be named Oct. 8 at the Chandler Center for the Arts. The pre-show will feature special presentations by former titleholders.
Homer said she has been able to locate four of the nine Navajos she's seeking - Esther Pooley (1967-69), Dolly Manson (1982-83), Evereta Thinn (2007-08) and the current titleholder, Sweetie Cody.
But she is asking for help to contact the other five: Carol Ann Yazzie (1956-66), Delphine Curley (1974-75), Madgelina Begay (1975-76), Lena Mose (1977-78) and Theresa Benally (1987-88).
If you have information about any of them, please call Denise Homer at 480-306-4599.
Cody, the reigning Miss Indian Arizona, is Kinyaa'aanii (Towering House Clan), born for Tl'aashchi'i'' (Red Bottom Clan). Her chei is "Áshiihi (Salt Clan) and her nál' is Naakaii Dine'é (Mexican People Clan).
Cody, who won the title in October, described her duties much like those of Miss Navajo Nation, only for 22 tribes instead of one.
"I got to learn more about being Navajo as well as the other tribes," she said. "You get to see many different cultures. It gives you a broader horizon than just representing your nation, but the responsibility of representing all the tribes in the state."
Cody, 23, said the scholarship that goes with the title helped pay her costs at Northern Arizona University, where she studied to become a social worker.
"It challenged me to better my education,' said Cody, who graduated from Winslow High School in 2006.
Cody said the decision to try for the Miss Indian Arizona crown was one of the greatest she ever made, and she advises the women competing to succeed her to "be prepared."
"I get to crown the 50th girl, it's an amazing feeling, Cody said.
Manson, who served as Miss Indian Arizona in 1982, said she hopes the current crop of contestants know their Native languages.
"I hope that they can promote Native people through speaking," Manson said.
In addition to the winner's scholarship, awards ranging from $300 to $2,000 will be made in eight other categories: first attendant, second attendant, best talent, best essay, best community service, best evening gown, Miss Congeniality, and - for the first time - best oral presentation.
"We don't just hand out the check to the winner, we send it to the school," Homer noted.
The goal of this pageant is for Native women to continue their education past high school, and for high schoolers to have that as a goal, she said.
"That's the only way they would receive their scholarship," Homer said, adding that the program also encourages young Natives to perform community service.
Miss Indian Arizona is open to women ages 17-24 in any Arizona tribe, with one representative from each tribe chosen to compete for the title.
While Miss Indian Arizona is limited to just one term of office, winners in the other categories can continue to run until they win the title.
Applications are due by June 24 with an application fee of $250. Any application postmarked after that date will incur an extra charge, bringing the entry fee to $350. No applications will be accepted after Aug. 5.
Information: www.missindianarizona.com.