SMILES: Nevayah Panther, a member of the Bird Clan from the Birdtown and Big Cove Communities, is all smiles as she models her traditional Cherokee outfit. Every time I move or dance in my jingle dress, it takes me back to that day.” One of my greatest memories is sitting at my great-grandmother’s feet placing ribbon on all 200 jingles. It took approximately 25 hours to complete my dress. All of the other colors hold special meanings to both tribes. In both native cultures, red stands for fire and my red dress represents the fire that burns inside of me for success. Siweumptewa wore a red jingle dress and commented, “It represents three important things to me – my Cherokee and Hopi native culture, my family, and my love of art. All these words make up who I am and so much more.” The words on my outfit reflect who I am and are what makes me what I am now. “My outfit of choice reflects the strong characteristics that make me the young lady that I am today. Panther wore a brightly colored outfit covered with words. “I aspire to become a medical doctor to help our people.” Rayven Hughes, a member of the Wild Potato Clan from the Birdtown Community, wore a doctor’s coat. After I spent two years working with my speech pathologist Allie, I strengthened and retrained my tongue.” I didn’t want to read out loud or talk in front of a class or pronounce my last name. She noted that the letter ‘r’ gave her difficulties. Girty, wearing a jacket emblazoned with syllabary characters, said she wore it to honor those, including herself, who have gone through speech therapy. She was named second runner-up in the pageant. TRADITIONAL: Jenna Cruz, a member of the Long Hair Clan from the Birdtown Community, models her traditional Cherokee outfit. If we continue to stand together, we can revitalize all that was lost.” Through oppression and colonization, our culture had disappeared. We are here on our homeland with our culture waiting to be carried on. “Throughout the years, our people have changed, evolved, and modernized, but one thing that hasn’t changed and that’s the Kituwah blood running through our veins.
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The young ladies introduced themselves wearing outfits of their choice, each describing why they chose their particular dress.Ĭruz wore a 16 th century style Cherokee outfit consisting of a twined skirt and drop-shoulder feather cape. Siweumptewa was named Miss Congeniality and Janna Girty, a member of the Wolf Clan from the Birdtown Community, was named Most Photogenic. Nevayah Panther, a member of the Bird Clan from the Birdtown and Big Cove Communities was named first runner-up, and Jenna Cruz, a member of the Long Hair Clan from the Birdtown Community, was named second runner-up. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)ĭestiny Siweumptewa, 14, a member of the Long Hair Clan from the Birdtown Community, was named 2018-19 Junior Miss Cherokee during a pageant held at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds on the night of Thursday, Oct. Knowing who's out there, just waiting to prey on children, the idea of making them look older than their years is frightening.JUNIOR MISS: Destiny Siweumptewa, a member of the Long Hair Clan from the Birdtown Community, was named 2018-19 Junior Miss Cherokee during a pageant held at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds on the evening of Thursday, Oct. Seeing how a little girl ends up looking like an 18-year-old is more than just creepy and disturbing. These little girls, who are probably just competing for a few hundred or thousand dollars, don't look like they enjoy what's been done to their faces and hair. well, to be charitable, an 18-year-old debutante who has no clue about the world.Įven beyond the stage makeup, look at the hair! Wow! Poufy, teased hair that reminds people of the "big-hair" days of the 80s and 90s. Oh, my God! Rather than looking like the sweet, innocent beauty she is, a contestant looks like. Sticky, tacky lipstick smeared on young, innocent lips lipstick drawn on beyond the natural border of the girl's lips and eyeshadow and mascara glopped on smooth, young and poreless skin, making a four-year-old look much more (ahem) mature than she really is. Love 'em or hate 'em, parents can't help but gasp in horror at some of the pictures of the little girls competing against each other.