Quiet style garners John fan support

Even the stage crew behind the scenes at the Miss Indian World 2006 contest wanted Canada's Violet John to win. On April 28, at the Gathering of Nations Powwow held in Albequerque, New Mexico, she did.

"Backstage during the talent part of the pageant, they noticed how polite my mom, Rosa, and I were," recalled 21-year-old John. "We were really quiet-maybe just a little overwhelmed. There were only two of us together, while some girls had a pack of six or more chaperones."

When John, Cree and Taino (her mother is from Santiago, Cuba) from Alberta's Kehewin First Nation was called up to accept the prize for best essay, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought 'That's it. At least I can go home with something.' And then they called me up again to accept Miss Indian World. I was really suspicious that they were making a mistake, that they had mixed my name up with someone else's."

But when the flowers, trophy, beaded sash and crown were piled on, she knew there was no error. Out of 26 of North America's most intelligent and beautiful young women, John was chosen.
"Yes, it all seems surreal, still," John said, taking a break with her mom and grandmother, Julia Kehewin, during Treaty Six's Alternative Healing conference in Edmonton May 4 to 6.

"I'm just coming down from everything. During the pageant I got maybe two to four hours of sleep a night."

Referring again to the backstage crew at the pageant, John comments on how the technicians rated the girls.

"They said the contestants should be judged on what they do while not in the public eye. How they treat their families when the pressure's on. I agree with them. The techies said 'We love watching you and your mom together. That's how people should treat each other."

John's grandfather, George Kehewin, was a well-known spiritual Elder during his life and she grew up with regular sweatlodge and other ceremonies.

"He said 'Always travel with your humility.' And that's what I felt when they crowned me, humility. I know I have to learn the ropes and listen hard through this upcoming year. Listening is a big thing. We're losing 5,000 Elders every year and it's crucial we hear them. During my reign I will think of what they would say in my position."

Asked what kind of child Violet was, mother Rosa said she was always 'a quiet child.'
Grandmother Julia agrees. "She was watching and observing all the time. When she was a little girl I would hear her whispering. She was always saying the Cree words I taught her over and over to herself."

During the coming year John will give up her social life to serve as Miss Indian World. "That's okay, I didn't have one anyway," she laughed, referring to her hectic first year nursing studies in Victoria, B.C. There she serves as student society president, coordinating events such as social gatherings, Elders' dinners and workshops.

Nursing school is John's first step toward becoming a doctor "and she'll make a good one," said Rosa. "She's kind and loving and she's a bona fide `kid magnet'. When we visited a pueblo (village) in New Mexico, the kids were swarming around her."

"As Aboriginal people, we do have the youngest parenting group in the nation," John points out.

"But if we take the time to walk in beauty as our ancestors did, we'll be fine. As a people we are really smart, and we know the ways to live. As everyone says, `Learn your language. It's all in there," said Violet John.

John doesn't hesitate when asked what she will say to people during her reign.

"To the men I will say 'be strong. We need you. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for my father and my brothers.

"And to women, I will say `Listen. Whether you're single or married, always listen twice and speak once.' And to older women and men I will say `Please talk to us all you can. Tell us your stories and speak of your knowledge because we need to learn from you all that we can.' And finally, to the babies, I will say 'It's okay to make mistakes. Be happy and do what makes you feel free. It's okay to go outside and play and get really dirty.'"

John's social consciousness and confidence come from growing up in a family that performed powwow dance and "dramatic theatre pieces about social justice" for the public. John is a hoop dancer who fuses the traditional dance with a contemporary base beat.

"So many young people are learning the hoops. The 'nimitohtak ­ the dance' is coming back strong. It is really helping us to be who we are."