Question:
A member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is the new Miss
Indian Nations. Cody Harjo (Seminole/Otoe/Creek) was crowned the twelfth Miss
Indian Nations September 6 during the 34th Annual United Tribes International
Powwow.
Miss Harjo is a descendant of the Otoe, Creek, Cherokee and Iowa tribes. Her
parents, Leonard and Sheila Harjo, Ada, OK, were present for her coronation by
the outgoing Miss Indian Nations, Vijaya Sharee Watson.
Â"Vijaya is the best example of what Miss Indian Nations should be,Â" said
Harjo in a speech to over 5,000 powwow spectators at Lone Star Arena on the
United Tribes campus. Â"I hope to be the best I can possibly be. ItÂ's going
to be hard to fill her moccasins.Â"
Miss Harjo is a member of the Panther and Buffalo Clan and the Tusekia Harjo
Band. As is common among those respectful of American Indian cultural norms,
she asked the forgiveness of elders for any breaches in protocol or errors in
her public presentation.
Her voice cracked with emotion when recalling the teachings of her maternal
grandfather Benjamin Arkeketa. Â"I feel his absence now. He was a man who led
by example.Â" Her maternal grandmother, Mary Freeman, resides in Sand Springs,
OK. Through the Arkeketas she is a direct descendant of Chief George Arkeketa.
Miss Harjo credited her paternal grandfather, the late Floyd Harjo, with
teaching her the value of education. Â"He also taught me that we should always
be working for the good of the people.Â" Her paternal grandmother is the late
Ester Barnoski.
Along with the Miss Indian Nations title comes a $2,000 scholarship, yearlong
travel opportunities, sponsorships and numerous gifts. Miss Harjo will continue
her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and plans to attend graduate
school to earn a masters degree in education or go to film school. She is a
member of the National Society of Collegiate scholars. She is a recipient of
the Nancy Boehm Carter grant for public policy. She is an original member of
the Ballet Folklorico de Dartmouth and she continues to dance fancy shawl and
ladies southern cloth.
Contestants were judged on traditional skills, public appearance and
presentations, communication skill and speaking ability, personal conduct, and
answers to general and impromptu questions. Miss Harjo was named best in talent
with an original story inspired by traditional coyote tales entitled, Coyote
Goes to WALMART. She also recited an original poem and rapped to demonstrate
how poetry is found in popular culture.
Competing for the national title were seven other candidates from tribes around
the country. Named First Runner Up was Vicki Marie Alberts (Arikara/Spirit Lake
Dakota) an enrolled member of Three Affiliated Tribes, New Town, ND. Selected
Second Runner Up was Shere Lynn Wright (Sicangu Lakota) from the Rosebud Sioux
Tribe, Mission, SD. Third Runner Up was Martina R. Gallegos (Hispanic/Ute
Mountain Ute), Towaoc, CO.
Jodi Hajicek Slater (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), Belcourt, ND, was named Miss
Congeniality; Barbara Abrahams (Seneca) Salamanca, NY received the
PresidentÂ's Award; Grace Ann Brave Crow (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe),
Mobridge, SD, received the Tribal ChairmanÂ's Award.
The Miss Indian Nations program is open to American Indian women ages 17 to 26.
ItÂ's coordinated through United Tribes Technical College.
Â"The pageant offers an experience in leadership,Â" said Jess Clairmont,
pageant coordinator. Â"It serves in a cross-cultural way by sharing the grace
and dignity of American Indian culture and heritage.Â"
Miss Harjo will serve for one year as a cultural ambassador for Indian Nations.
United Tribes Technical College coordinates her public appearances. Donations
and sponsorships are welcome.
For more information or to schedule an appearance, contact Miss Indian Nations
at United Tribes Technical College, 3315 University Drive, Bismarck, ND, 58504,
701-255-3285. Visit the website http://www.unitedtribestech.com and click on
Miss Indian Nations.
Answer:
She's a hottie, but not nearly as fine as this years Miss White
Mountain Apache. Of course I'm a little biased. I looked for an
online picture of her, but since she was recently crowned their not up
yet.
