April 7, 2010 by Louie Calderon NMSU NewsCenter
2009 Miss Native Ameria Jackie Silago accepts traditional crown, responsibility of recruitment and advocating for higher education (Media Credit: Andi Murphy)
The annual Miss Native American New Mexico State University Pageant will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, April 9, at the Corbett Center Student Union Auditorium.
“This is a pretty intensive contest,” said Justin McHorse, director of NMSU’s American Indian Program. “Above all, Miss Native American NMSU has to be successful as a student, for she will be an ambassador for the Native American students and the university.”
Pageants are held throughout Indian Country to help transmit culture and traditions to young women, and in turn to the greater community.
Some of the duties for Miss Native American NMSU include making appearances during American Indian Program tailgates, banquets, recruiting events, as well as other student organization events. Additional duties include helping recruit qualified students to join the NMSU student body.
“She will help in ways that are beneficial to enhancing the Native American experience on campus,” McHorse said.
Contestants will be judged on four categories: public speaking, a traditional or cultural activity, an impromptu question and answer and overall presentation. Examples of a traditional or cultural activity include a presentation of tribal history, culture, storytelling, traditional singing or dancing, and traditional art or craft demonstrations.
In addition to crowning Miss Native American NMSU, Miss Congeniality will be chosen by a vote from 2010 Miss Native American contestants and Miss Photogenic will be chosen by a vote from the audience.
Two-time Grammy Award winner Robert Mirabal, will perform during the pageant’s intermission. Mirabal won the Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Native American Album of the Year for “Sacred Ground,” and again in 2008 for his album “Johnny Whitehorse Totemic Flute Chants.”
The event is primarily sponsored by the Associated Students of NMSU for the NMSU community. For more information contact the American Indian Program at (575) 646-4207.
