Law student crowned Miss Indian World

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On the last night of the Gathering of Nations Powwow, 24-year-old Lillian Sparks, a Rosebud Sioux from Randallstown, Maryland, was crowned Miss Indian World 2000.

With the most points racked up in public speaking, interview, traditional talent, and dancing competitions, the second year law student beat out 21 other hopefuls, including three Canadian contestants: Sturgeon Lake, Alta.'s Tara Kappo, Janisha Wildman of Morley, Alta. and Farrica Prince of Oak Lake, Man.

Lillian Sparks, a Rosebud Sioux from Randallstown, Maryland.

"This is such a shock, such an honor," Sparks told reporters at a press conference after the crowning. "Mitzi (Miss Indian World 1999) has done such a wonderful job. I've got a good example to follow. I pray every night to the one above, my Creator, that my life is honorable and of the highest.

"I don't feel I had an advantage over anyone else to win. I know we all just came here to do our best. I only wish my father could be here, but he's in another part of the States being honored tonight.

"Starting today, life is going to be different for me, but I plan on finishing law in Washington D.C. and then staying there and becoming a legislator," she said of her future plans.

Flanked by first runner-up Emily Washines, Yakima/Cree/Skokoinish from Washington, and second runner-up Paula Riding in Feathers, Pawnee/Cherokee from Zuni, New Mexico, Sparks remained composed and articulate during a barrage of political questions from reporters.

"Just because President Clinton visited Pine Ridge and Shiprock, it's not significant enough to indicate increased concern about Indian people on his part. He's going to have to visit all of our lands more often and sit down at the table with us if real change is to occur," she responded to a question about the government's interest Native issues.

Regarding the settling of differences between the diverse Native populations of North America, she cited effective leadership as the answer.

"If we want to have a voice in the next millenium, we have to speak in a united, powerful voice through leaders who make it a priority to settle the differences in our tribes. We must heal our nations, our lands, and return to our roots. We have to let establishment know we are here, and we are only getting stronger."

Sparks encouraged Native youth to "stay on the positive path and avoid the negative that will try to throw you off. And always remember there is a higher being that watches over you and can be called upon whenever you need strength."

This same strength served her well through the four days of nerve-wracking pageant competitions in which she excelled.

On Wednesday and Thursday before the April 29th crowning, the girls completed interview and public speaking competitions. On Thursday evening they delivered traditional talent presentations to a packed audience in the posh Kiva auditorium at the Albuquerque Convention Centre with actors Michael and Sandra Horse as hosts.

Sparks had knelt on stage with a cradleboard and doll. Playing the role of the "child's" mother, she explained to her the meaning of the four directions of the Sioux medicine wheel. The "baby" was swaddled in four blankets, each the color of one of the directions, and as Sparks unwrapped them, she explained the symbolism of each direction.

Second runner-up, Paula Riding in Feathers, earned the most points with her traditional presentation. Standing before a star constellation diagram, she spoke of how her people built their earth lodges to double as homes and observatories to watch the night sky. They knew when ducklings would begin swimming and when to plant crops by watching the changing constellations.

"They were incredible astronomers," Riding in Feathers told the audience. "They had to have done a lot of observation and research to discover what they knew. I want to dispell the myth that Native people are dumb in the maths and sciences. I want to break that stereotype."

Marquette Bagley,Shoshone-Bannock, gave a spear fishing demonstration.

"I've been doing this since I was nine," she explained as she rigged the spear. Other performers included Robin Blackfeather, Sioux, who played the flute and Spring Pungowiyi, Inupiaq Easkimo/Siberian, who sang a song in her own language.

For Canadian delegate Kappo, who flawlessly told a Wesadkejack story, the traditional talent contest was one of the least stressful events in the intense, four-day pageant.

"My grandmother told me the story I told. Of course, it's never been written down, so I just had to make sure to tell the high points, otherwise the story wouldn't make sense. Still, it was a little difficult to know exactly how it was going to come out because you had to make sure you didn't go over the three-minute time limit. The talent contest, like the public speaking and interview, were timed, and you always had to be aware of that."

"All of the traditional talent was excellent," said Kimberlie Hall, one of several judges.