Miss Indigenous Canada Explained

Miss Indigenous Canada
Type:Beauty pageant
Location:Canada
Language:English
Leader Title:Director
Leader Name:Aleria McKay

Miss Indigenous Canada is a national competition in Canada exclusively for women of Indigenous Canadian background. Women of First Nations, Inuit and Métis background represent their communities in a competition which focuses on their character, community service, cultural involvement, and ambassadorship for their communities.

Four categories are performed: interview, personal essay, traditional presentation and community presentation. The highest scorers are then placed in a final question competition to determine the winner. The inaugural winner for the 2024 competition was Jessica McKenzie of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.

Background

Miss Indigenous Canada was founded by Aleria McKay of the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, a former Miss Teenage Ontario in 2018.[1] [2] [3] It primarily focuses on connection to community and culture, with competitors being judged on their ambassadorship, character, community service, and cultural involvement.[4] During the competition, participants are judged in four categories: an interview, personal essay, traditional presentation, and community presentation.[5] [6] The highest scoring individuals are then judged in a final question competition to determine the final winner. Charles Lefebvre writing for CTV News described the competition as "not a beauty pageant, but instead focused on Indigenous traditions, culture and leadership."[7] The event was created in order for young Indigenous women to celebrate their abilities and achievements, make connections, work to serve their communities, and promote cultural involvement and connection.[8] [9]

Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) women with a verifiable community affiliation between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age are eligible for the competition.[10] [11] The competition is inclusive of married women and two-spirited individuals.[12] A component of the competition is to raise funds for the We Matter Campaign, which focuses on supporting Indigenous youth. Participants are required to raise a minimum of $100 for the organization as a charitable donation.[13]

The contest lasts for three days, the initial pool of candidates is narrowed down to five finalists. The inaugural sash and crown was designed by Kymberly Farmer.

History

The first Miss Indigenous Canada was held on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve, beginning July 24, 2024 and lasted for three days. The first day consisted of workshops, activities, guest speakers, and museum tours. 700 individuals had applied to the pageant, and 26 were selected to compete. The victor was Jessica McKenzie of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, her victory was celebrated by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. McKenzie's presentation focused on her grandfather, a residential school survivor, photographer, trapper, and voice actor. The first runner-up was Meiyah Whiteduck of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, the second runner-up was Sarah Lewis of Curve Lake First Nation, and the third runner-up was Sereena Nahmabin of Aamjiwnaang First Nation.[14] Six additional awards were given to contestants: academic achievement to Jaida Gregg (Lac Seul First Nation), public speaking to Ocean Bruyere (Sagkeeng First Nation), traditional knowledge to Jade Mukash (Whapmagoostui), charitable giving to third runner-up Sereena Nahmabin, congeniality to victor Jessica McKenzie, and community service to Reegan Starr Maracle (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation).

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Miss Indigenous Canada to be crowned in Six Nations . 31 July 2024 . The Turtle Island News . 10 July 2024 . en-CA . 14 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240714173905/https://theturtleislandnews.com/index.php/2024/07/10/miss-indigenous-canada-to-be-crowned-in-six-nations/ . live .
  2. News: Driver . Keith . Talking with Aleria McKay about the first Miss Indigenous Canada . 31 July 2024 . CFWE FM . 9 April 2024 . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042035/https://cfweradio.ca/2024/04/09/talking-with-aleria-mckay-about-the-first-miss-indigenous-canada/ . live .
  3. News: Driver . Keith . Talking with Treaty 7 Contestant Taylor Bottle about first Miss Indigenous Canada Pageant . 31 July 2024 . CJWE . 30 May 2024 . en . 2 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240602052112/https://cjwe.ca/2024/05/30/talking-with-treaty-7-contestant-taylor-bottle-about-first-miss-indigenous-canada-pageant/ . live .
  4. News: Moqon . Sis . Meet the 3 Mi'kmaw women competing to be Miss Indigenous Canada . 31 July 2024 . CBC News . CBC News . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 26 July 2024 . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042038/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/three-l-nu-women-competing-miss-indigenous-canada-title-1.7276361 . live .
  5. News: Thoms . Randy . Region represented at 1st Miss Indigenous pagaent . 31 July 2024 . . Acadia Broadcasting . 26 July 2024 . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042551/https://www.ckdr.net/2024/07/26/region-represented-at-1st-miss-indigenous-pagaent/ . live .
  6. News: Maxwell . Nigel . Miss Indigenous Canada competition will include strong representation from Sask. . 31 July 2024 . northeastNOW . 4 June 2024 . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042540/https://northeastnow.com/2024/06/04/miss-indigenous-canada-competition-will-include-strong-representation-from-sask/ . live .
  7. News: Lefebvre . Charles . 'I'm honoured': Manitoba First Nation resident named Miss Indigenous Canada . 31 July 2024 . CTV News Winnipeg . CTV News . Bell Media . 29 July 2024 . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042543/https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/i-m-honoured-manitoba-first-nation-resident-named-miss-indigenous-canada-1.6981818 . live .
  8. News: Roushorne . Melissa . Aamjiwnaang's own Sereena Nahmabin is competing to be Miss Indigenous Canada . 31 July 2024 . The Sarnia Journal . 17 May 2024 . en . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731184203/https://www.thesarniajournal.ca/news/aamjiwnaangs-own-sereena-nahmabin-is-competing-to-be-miss-indigenous-canada-8761587 . live .
  9. News: Smith . Kelly Anne . Miss Indigenous Canada contestant helps First Nations in emergency situations. 31 July 2024 . Anishinabek News . 3 July 2024 . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731184900/https://anishinabeknews.ca/2024/07/03/miss-indigenous-canada-contestant-helps-first-nations-in-emergency-situations/ . live .
  10. News: Anderson . Amanda . 2 Edmonton women among competitors at Miss Indigenous Canada pageant . 31 July 2024 . CTV News Edmonton . CTV News . Bell Media . 22 July 2024 . en . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731183458/https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/2-edmonton-women-among-competitors-at-miss-indigenous-canada-pageant-1.6973516 . live .
  11. News: Inaugural Miss Indigenous Canada Competition to be held in July . 31 July 2024 . CFWE FM . 10 March 2024 . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042607/https://cfweradio.ca/2024/03/10/15683/ . live .
  12. News: Favel . Mick . Three Sask. contestants vying for first Miss Indigenous Canada crown . 31 July 2024 . CTV Regina . CTV News . Bell Media . 8 June 2024 . en . 31 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240731174257/https://regina.ctvnews.ca/three-sask-contestants-vying-for-first-miss-indigenous-canada-crown-1.6919203 . live .
  13. News: Smith . Kelly Anne . Boxing kwe staying ringside in the Miss Indigenous Canada competition . 31 July 2024 . Anishinabek News . 10 June 2024.
  14. News: Head . Bruce . Curve Lake First Nation's Sarah Lewis a top-three finalist for Miss Indigenous Canada . 31 July 2024 . KawarthaNOW . 29 July 2024 . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806042542/https://kawarthanow.com/2024/07/29/curve-lake-first-nations-sarah-lewis-a-top-three-finalist-for-miss-indigenous-canada/ . live .
  15. News: Shebahkeget . Ozten . Northern Manitoba woman calls victory as 1st Miss Indigenous Canada 'a community win' . 31 July 2024 . CBC News . CBC News . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 28 June 2024 . 30 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240730071021/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/miss-indigenous-canada-2024-winner-1.7278080 . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Miss Indigenous Canada".

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