University student chosen as Indian princess

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Since 1912 the Indian Village at the Calgary Stampede has been a tourist attraction for thousands of visitors. Each year several tipis stand on the grounds during the 10-day celebration and hundreds of people from the Treaty 7 area that surrounds the city of Calgary live in the tipis while the stampede is underway.

During their stay they host a number of competitions, such as tipi-raising contests, powwow dance competitions and daily Native tradition and cultural demonstrations.

The tipis occupied belong to the families who've been involved in the stampede over the generations for more than 50 years.

"Some of the Elders today who are at the Indian Village were babies when their parents used to set up the tipis there in 1912," said Shelly Repka, Calgary Stampede and Indian Village volunteer. "The Indian Village is an incredible part of our western culture and heritage."

As part of this tradition, each year an Indian princess is chosen to represent the Stampede and the Indian Village over the course of the coming year. This year, 21-year-old Natasha Calf Robe/Ayoungman was crowned at the Indian princess pageant held at the Carriage House Inn on May 4.

While she reigns she will be expected to attend a number of special events and ceremonies as an ambassador of the Native nations of southern Alberta.

Calf Robe/Ayoungman said she still can't describe the feeling she had when she won the title.

"I was so happy. I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. I couldn't stop smiling. My parents and my family were very proud and honored," she said.

Calf Robe/Ayoungman, currently a third-year student at the University of Calgary, is working towards her PhD in child psychology. She believes her dream to be a child psychologist began after helping out at her school in a buddy system program for elementary school age children.

"My mother and my dad are really helpful and so are my step parents. My dad said that being a princess will help me in my career goal, because I like working with the youth and I want to eventually set up my own counseling office in Siksika," her home community.

Calf Robe/ Ayoungman credits her scholastic achievements to her grandmother and her aunt.

"My grandmother encouraged me and told me to try hard in school. She always told me to do my best. Both my grandmother and my aunt are my role models. My aunt is getting her law degree in university, so when I told her that I was interested in attending the university she showed me around the campus and gave me the direction I needed. She was really helpful," she said.

"We are really pleased with Natasha being selected," said Repka. "She is a great ambassador, not only for the Calgary Stampede and Indian Village, but for the Aboriginal youth and Native women who want to go forward in society today. She will be a spectacular ambassador. She is just a beautiful, wonderful woman. She is a shining star and she is going to do great."

A panel of seven judges, one from each of the tribes of Treaty 7, evaluated the contestants speeches on what the Aboriginal culture meant to them.

"The contest received quite a few entries. They had to make a speech on how they would represent the Calgary Stampede as an ambassador and there were also a couple of impromptu questions. They were also asked to perform a Native dance, either fancy, traditional, or jingle, and then they had interviews with the judges," said Repka.

Repka said that people are encouraged to visit Indian Village.

"There are so many things going on. There will be a bannock booth, an arts and crafts area, a huge tipi where public events will be held, Native displays, Native language interpreters and history and the five different communities usually have two-days to showcase their culture," she said.

This year's Calgary Stampede will run July 4 to 13.