Women's Circle hosting princess contests

Observer Staff

10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

The Naanooshke Women's Circle will host the Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe and Miss Three Fires Princess contests in conjunction with the 19th Annual Little Elk Retreat Powwow Aug. 1-3.

Both contests are open to Tribal youth-Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe ages 8-17 and Miss Three Fires from ages 8-17-allowing the girls to respectively represent their Tribes.

"I believe this contest presents the opportunity for the Native girls to take a leadership role in the community," said Tribal Chief Maynard Kahgegab, Jr. "It is of great importance that the future women in our community have a good role model to follow. Women are the backbone of the native Tribes."

Applicants must be a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan to apply for the Jr. Miss contest, or belong to any of the Three Fire Tribes, Ojibwe/Chippewa, Potawatomi or Ottawa to enter the Miss Three Fires.

The application deadline for Miss Three Fires is Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. Those interested must fill out an official entry application, contestant agreement and provide certification of Tribal membership. Applications for the Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe contest are no longer being accepted. Deadline was July 29.

All girls must be single, never married and have no dependents. They must conduct themselves in a respectable manner. The following behavior will not be tolerated: the display of affection in public, the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking and profane language.

The applicants are given the opportunity to display their talent through public speaking, essays, regalia, dance competition and private interviews.

During the powwow the public speaking and regalia portion of the contest, along with the dance competition will take place on the powwow grounds. The girls will be asked questions and will be awarded points based on their answer for the public speaking portion.

Private interviews for Miss Three Fires contestants are also slated to take place on the powwow grounds before Grand Entry on Aug. 3.

Although Miss Three Fires contestants will not be interviewed at the Women's Circle, they are welcomed and encouraged to attend. During the gathering there will be a Talking Circle where the girls will be able to speak about themselves and issues they are interested in. This will give the judges the opportunity to meet and visit with the contestants.

Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe must: attend four or more powwows in the state, write quarterly articles for the Tribal Observer, attend four or more community functions, attend Women's Circle meetings bimonthly to provide updates, serve as a judge for next year's Miss Three Fires contest, and make a shawl for the next Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe.

Miss Three Fires must: attend four or more powwows in the state, write quarterly articles for their community paper/newsletter, attend two or more Saginaw Chippewa community functions, attend two or more functions in their own community, supply quarterly report cards to Women's Circle, serve as a judge for next year's Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe contest, and make a shawl for the next Miss Three Fires.

"The winning contestant of the Jr. Miss Saginaw Ojibwe title, should attend community gathering and celebrations as well as powwows regularly," stated Anita Heard, a Women's Circle participant. "It is important that the princess is representing the Tribe through cultural events."

For more information, contact Mary Lynn at (989) 775-4470, Julie D'Artagnan at (989) 775-5259, Debbie Squillets at (989) 775-5651 or Renee Dillard at (989) 775-4470.