New princess crowned

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"This is the biggest thrill of my life. I am honored that I was chosen to represent our people" said an emotional Roberta Anne La France, from Gleichen, Alberta after being crowned the 1986 Alberta Native Princess.

The Miss Alberta Princess Pageant was held on June 20 and 21, at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton. The pageant was sponsored by the CNFC and the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA). Seven beautiful Native women vied for the right to wear the crown and the prestige that comes with it.

During the fun-filled two days of activities, the contestants danced, gave speeches about themselves, read poetry, did traditional dances, and gave brief speeches on Native topics to show the judges individually why they were deserving of the crown.

Aboriginal Radio and Television Society director, Ray Fox, and announcer/ operator Doris Bill co-em/ceed the event. Fox was at his best as he kept the audience

and contestants laughing through the nervousness and excitement.

The contestants were from as far north as Slave Lake and as far south as Fort Macleod. In the two day competition, the girls were required to perform in a number

of areas such as traditional, modern, and speaking abilities.

The following, highlights some of the girls talents shown over the weekend.

1st RUNNER-UP

Carolyn Buffalo - Carolyn, 20-year old Native of the Montana Band of the Hobbema First Nations, gave a talk on Bill C-31, and how it affects her people. Carolyn is a second year University of Alberta.

She is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program and is majoring in political science.

Carolyn was the 1980-81 Hobbema Indian Princess; 1982-83 Ponoka Stampede Powwow Princess; and has done traditional dancing. Her entry into the pageant was sponsored by the Hobbema Four Bands Administration.

Doreen Cardinal - Doreen was sponsored by the Edmonton Canadian Friendship Centre.

Doreen is 21 years old and is originally from the Saddle Lake Reserve. She now makes her home in Edmonton . A dancer with the White Braid Society, Doreen has travelled to a number of places to dance at exhibitions, and other community events.

Doreen says her most treasured memories is when she travelled to Japan to dance at a world fair held there in 1985. She represented Saddle Lake during the "Year of the Youth," in 1985. Doreen's modern talent performance brought a round of applause from the audience when she sang a beautiful rendition of "The Greatest Love Of All," a recent hit for upcoming star, Whitney Houston.

After the pageant, Doreen will travel to Toronto for the Native Business Conference. Doreen also plans on entering university to work on a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

2nd RUNNER-UP

Sandra Eaglechild - Sandra Eaglechild is 18 years old and from Fort Macleod. She was sponsored by the Fort Macleod Native Cultural Centre. Sandra has just completed high school on the Blood reserve near Standoff, Alberta. She says that she learned about herself while attending school on the reserve, and that she is happy she could learn Native values from her people.

Sandra is active in the Indian rodeo circuit as a barrel racer, pole bending, and bread-away rope artist. She is the president of the Eagle Feather Society, and the Cardston High School Native Club, and belongs to a number of other clubs and committees. Sandra's performance "Abba Father," a gospel hymn, without the accompaniment of music, was well received by the listeners.

Sandra is a volunteer with the Youth Catholic club and likes to sing gospel hymns. Sandra has won two princess pageants. She was the Cardston High School Princess from 1982 to 1984, and is presently the Fort Macleod Native Cultural Centre Princess. Sandra plans to enter university to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She was chosen the second runner-up in the pageant.

Debbie Youngman - Eighteen year old Debbie Youngman, was sponsored by the Calgary Canadian Native Friendship. Debbie is a art-time worker at the Blackfoot Elder Centre and belongs to the A-1 Club, a Blackfoot traditional dancing troupe of high regard.

Debbie has travelled to Holland with the dance club, as well as other places across Canada and the United States.

She was the Blackfoot Indian Princess in 1983-84, and the Kamloops Indian Princess in 1984. She now holds the title as the Calgary Canadian Native Friendship Centre Princess. In this year's Alberta Native Princess Pageant, Debbie performed a

fancy dance, and displayed her traditional costume making talents for the judges and the audience. Both talents were well applauded by those present.

Lisa McLeod - Lisa McLeod, 16, was sponsored by the Slave Lake Friendship Centre. She attends the Ronald Michner High School in Slave Lake. Lisa plans a career in dentistry and hopes to attend NAIT or SAIT, to accomplish this. McLeod said that being in the pageant has been one of the best learning experiences in life. She likes to listen to music and do sketches of people. In the modern talent portion for the pageant Lisa did her version of "The Rose," a song made popular by Bette Midler in the early 1980's. Lisa received full marks for her performance.

Ruby Metchewais - Ruby Metchewais is 17 years old, and is from the Cold Lake First Nations Reserve. Ruby makes her home in Grand Centre, and has just completed her Grade 12 at the Grand Centre High School. Ruby was the vice-president of the Sarcee Youth Club; 1986 president of the Cold Lake Eager Eagles Club, and is an active softball player for the Cold Lake First Nations baseball team. Ruby is known for being a very good traditional dancer and has won a number of awards for her dancing abilities. At the pageant she showed the judges her dancing ability when she performed the Crow Hop and the ladies fancy dance.

Ruby plans on taking a course in early childhood development, and her goal is to become a counsellor in the future. She feels it is important that our children receive he best counselling they can get. Ruby dedicated her participation in the pageant to the memory of her brother Clifford, who passed away on June 1, 1986.

Ray Fox, may have said it all when he commented, "It's been a thrill being here with all these beautiful girls and seeing beauty the way it should be. Not only did the seven participants show off their beauty, but they all showed the beauty of the many talents each girl possesses."