Natiana King crowned 102nd Annual Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Queen
By Donovan Quintero
Special to the Times
CHURCH ROCK, N.M.
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Newly crowned 2024-25 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Queen Natiana King waves at the crowd as she walks off the arena ground during the 102nd Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Church Rock, N.M., on Friday evening.
Natiana King was crowned the 102nd Annual Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Queen in a captivating ceremony held on Friday night at Red Rock Park.
King, originally from Tsaile, Arizona, an accomplished contestant, emerged victorious after competing against six other talented young women. In her winning moment, King expressed her heartfelt gratitude and shared her vision for her reign as Miss Ceremonial.
She said she is honored to be crowned the 102nd Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Queen.
“I want to use this platform to highlight and showcase the talent of our artists and to really embrace show non-Indigenous people who we are and a different perspective,” she said.
Her great-grandmother, Ruth Mike, was a silversmith and a rug weaver, who regularly sold her work in Gallup, said King, who herself was a silversmith.
“I decided to run in honor of my great-grandmother and also my great-great-grandfather. They were both silversmiths, they were weavers. They were craftsmen and they were able to be immersed in those worlds,” she said. “I really wanted to dedicate this title to them, because if it wasn’t for them, our family wouldn’t be who we are today. So my family and I are all descendants of silversmiths. That legacy is still continuing on.”
With a passion for preserving and showcasing traditional artistry, she aims to raise awareness and appreciation for the skills and craftsmanship of local artisans during her tenure.
King revealed that she is currently studying to become a radiologist.
The event was marked by the auspicious blessing of August monsoonal rains, adding an extra touch of magic to an already special evening.
Read more in the Aug. 15, edition of the Navajo Times.
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