McCall Represents Seminole Tribe at Miss Indian World Pageant

By Adelsa Williams

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Tribal citizen Christine McCall had the honor and pleasure of representing The Seminole Tribe of Florida at the Miss Indian World pageant this year. The Indian Country-wide pageant happens annually during the anticipated Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow.

This year’s pageant took place from April 27 to crowning day on April 30 and drew a total of 28 contestants from Tribes nationwide.

During the competition, contestants display their public speaking skills, dance and traditional knowledge.

The first three days before the actual Pow-Wow, contestants attended an orientation session where they were explained the rules by the pageant committee. They then moved on to the public speaking part of the competition.

Afterwards, there was more practice sessions and plenty of break times for the contestants to socialize and learn a little more about each other and the Tribe they represented. They also were treated to a banquet dinner at the Shark Reef Café.

Contestants also had to write an essay and sit in a personal interview.

In her essay, McCall said she plans to attend Florida State University (FSU) to study social work after graduation this May from Sheridan Christian School in Hollywood, Fla. She will also be attending the summer program at FSU prior to starting as a freshman.

“I strive to be the first Seminole Family Services director,” said McCall.

The jammed packed talent competition was held at the Convention Center’s Shiva Auditorium in downtown Albuquerque. McCall was the seventeenth contestant to be called up to present her talent; she proudly did an admirable presentation of the step by step details in making Seminole patchwork. Tribal citizen Mary Jean Koenes accompanied McCall onstage during her talent presentation as she modeled a dress handmade by McCall.

All talent presentations were well applauded by the audience in attendance and even though McCall did not place in that category, her presentation earned one of the few “awws” from the crowd.

The night of the dance competition, McCall danced to the beat of the Indian drums arrayed in a beautiful Southern Cloth dress made by Salina Todome, a Kiwona/Comanche from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The beadwork on the detail of dress was made by her husband Junior Todome, who also provided all of McCall’s beaded accessories as well as her beaded moccasins.

Eighteen year old McCall showed much enthusiasm in her desire to represent the Tribe at the Miss Indian World pageant. In order to participate in the pageant, the prospective contestants had to sell raffle tickets and McCall sold almost 4,000 tickets. She was the contestant with the most raffle tickets sold overall and her efforts were rewarded with a Disney® cruise.

Throughout the week’s activities, not only did McCall participate in a once in a life time experience but also met a wonderful group of new people. She pointed out that the Miss Indian World pageant committee praised this year’s contestants for being one of the most wonderful groups they have worked with because each contestant treated each other without animosity. At times, McCall even shared some of her packed accessories with some of the other contestants.

“Everything was so calm,” said Wanda Bowers, McCall’s mother and chaperone.

“I felt honored to represent the Tribe,” said McCall, “What was more important for me was that I got a chance to show that all Natives have different physical features, whether it may be dark or light, tall or short.” Besides a contestant from Canada, McCall was the tallest one on the group.

On the first night of the Pow-Wow during the grand entry ceremonies, the arena director called out the female jingle dancers for a jingle dance as way of “good blessing” for the weekend festivities.

The 2004-2005 Miss Indian World Delana Smith, a kindergarten teacher at her Tribe, also performed a farewell jingle dance. Surprising the crowd, Smith brought along her kindergarten class to dance with her. Smith explained that the dance with the children was also in memoriam to the youth killed in the past tragedy in her home and reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota. Pow-Wow goers gave Smith a standing ovation for her presentation after they silently witness the dance.

McCall shared that another emotional moment was right before the contestants came out from the dressing room to enter the arena for the announcement of the winner on the final night of the competition.

“I was very nervous and excited right until different contestants started singing songs in their Native language,” said McCall, “That’s when some of us started crying.” “One Navajo contestant said it meant more if she did it in her language.” She described the music as peaceful and soothing.

As always the tough competition had to be narrowed down to one lucky winner, she was Cassie Thomas from the Seneca Tribe from Lawtons, N.Y.

Thomas also won the best public speaking and best traditional presentation award.

McCall wants to give many thanks to all the Seminole Tribe of Florida officials of the council and the board who supported her and made possible for her to participate in this year’s pageant. She also wants to thank all of those who purchased raffle tickets and all who attended the Gathering of Nations and got a chance to witness her presentations and offered graceful compliments.