Indian America

Large group of contestants prior to 1957

Miss Indian America

This pageant began in 1953 as part of the annual three-day All-American Indian Days festival in Sheridan, Wyoming. Contestants competed on the basis of knowledge and practice of Indian culture, ability to communicate, appearance, knowledge of tribal, federal and state governments and talent in traditional and contemporary Indian skills.

During the 1950s Miss Indian America had ceremonial roles at the Miss America pageants in Atlantic City. Sandra May Gover, the 1956 Miss Indian America, is shown with Miss America, Marian Ann McKnight, after her coronation.

In 1985 the annual event moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, because of excellent facilities and location for promoting interracial development of Indiana and non-Indians.

1953 July 18 (43 entries from 21 tribes) 1 Washington (Toppenaish) Arlene Josephine Wesley (Yakima tribe) 2 South Dakota (Rapid City) Darlene DeSerca (Sioux) 3 Illinois (Chicago) Ione Jeunesse (Minnesota Chippewa)
1954 August 8 (76 entries from 15 states) 1 North Dakota (Fort Yates) Mary Louise Defender (Yanktanais-Sioux) 2 Oklahoma (Tulsa) Mary A. Turley (Cherokee) 3 New Mexico (Gallup) Kay Price (Navajo) 4 Montana (Birney) Annie Grace Strange Owl (Northern Cheyenne)
1955 August 7 (53 entries from 13 states) 1 Montana (Billings) Rita Ann McLaughlin (Hunkpapa-Sioux) 2 North Carolina (Cherry Point) Wynema Rose Archambault (Pawnee) 3 Montana (Pryor) Mary Geneva Whiteman (Crow) 4 Idaho (Lapwai) Rosa Mae Margaret Spencer (Nez Perce)
1956 August 5 (91 entries from 47 tribes in 30 states & Canada) 1 Utah (Brigham City) Sandra May Gover (Skidi-Pawnee) 2 Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) Barbara Jo Pappio (Kiowa) 3 Oklahoma (Tulsa) Susie Budd (Creek) 4 Oregon (Pilot Rock) Caroline Rosemary Montanic (Umatilla) Miss Congeniality Idaho (Lapwai) Janice Jean Murphy (Nez Perce)
1957 August 4 (104 entries from 41 tribes in 21 states) 1 Utah (Brigham City) Dolores Jean Shorty (Navajo) LOST TITLE 2 Montana (Butte) Ruthe Dee Larson (Gros Ventre) TOOK OVER TITLE 3 Oklahoma (Wewoka) Jamie Belle Brown (Seminole-Creek) 4 Oklahoma (Tulsa) Winnie Mae Guess (Cherokee) honorable mention New York (Lewiston) Minerva Mt. Pleasant (Tuscarora) Oklahoma (Tulsa) Arlene Yellow Hammer (Quawpaw-Winnebago) Montana (Lodge Grass) Ramona Beth Russell (Crow) Idaho (Lapwai) Constance Jo White (Nez Perce) Miss Congeniality Washington (Okanogan) Eloise Estelle Ore (Colville-Yakima)	Dolores Jean Shorty (left) was replaced by Ruthe Dee Larson (right), under unknown circumstances
1958 - not held due to financial problems. 1959 August 9 (75 entries from 40 tribes in 12 states & Canada, narrowed down to 15 finalists) 1 Montana (Browning) Delores Marie Racine (Blackfeet) (also in 1956 & 1957) 2 Montana (Lodge Grass) Ramona Beth Russell (Crow) 3 Montana (Miles City) Pearl Ann Rowland (North Cheyenne) 4 Iowa (city?) Georgianna Davenport (Sac Fox)

1960 August 7 (40 entries from 31 tribes) 1 New Mexico (Gallup) Vivian Linda Arviso (Navajo) 2 Montana (Lodge Grass) Ramona Beth Russell (Crow) (1st RU 1959)
1961 August 6 1 Oregon (Adams) Brenda Bearchum (Northern Cheyenne-Walla Walla Yakima) 2 Montana (Crow Agency) Deanna Arlene Stops (Crow) 3 New Mexico (Albuquerque) Helen Sharon Hardin (Santa Clara-Pueblo) 4 Idaho (Fort Hall) Belma Truchot (Bannock)
1962 August 5 1 Oregon (Klamath Falls) Ramona Soto (Klamath) 2 Montana (Poplar) Williamette Belle Youpee (Sioux) (won 1963) 3 Montana (Busby) Ruth Schirmer (Hopi)
1963 August 4 (24 entries) 1 Montana (Poplar) Williamette Belle Youpee (Sisseton-Yankton Sioux) (1st RU 1962) 2 Illinois (Chicago) Norma Jean Bearskin (Winnebago-Sioux) 3 Nebraska (Macy) Octa Lucy Mitchell (Omaha) 4 Idaho (Fort Hall) Nancy Marie Eschief (Pima)
1964 August 2 (27 entries from 22 tribes in 18 states) 1 Wyoming (Riverton) Michelle Ann Portwood (Arapahoe) 2 Montana (Billings) Marcella Sharron Ahtone (Kiowa) (won 1965) 3 Montana (Lodge Grass) Angela Veta Russell (Crow) 4 Florida (West Hollywood) Priscilla Doctor (Seminole)
1965 August 2 1 Montana (Billings) Marcele Sharron Ahtone (Kiowa) 2 Arizona (San Carlos) Nora Dawson (San Carlos Apache) 3 California (San Jose) Angelina Medina (Acoma Pueblo Indian) 4 Montana (Lame Deer) Mary M. Shoulderblade (Northern Cheyenne) 5 Nebraska (Macy) Octa Lucy Mitchell (Omaha Indian) (2nd RU 1963) Miss Congeniality Oregon (Cayose) Sharon Lee Hoptowit (Yakima Walla Walla) (2nd RU 1966 & 1st RU 1967)
1966 July 31 (48 entries) 1 New Mexico (Taos) Wahleah Lujan (Taos-Pueblo) 2 New Mexico (Haystack Butte) June Martinez (Navajo) 3 Oregon (Cayose) Sharon Lee Hoptowit (Yakima-Walla Walla) (Miss Congeniality in 1965 & 1st RU in 1967) 4 Nebraska (Macy) Octa Mitchell (Omaha) (also 1963 & 1965) 5 Montana (Lame Deer) Jennie Lou Small (Northern Cheyenne)
1967 August 6 (36 entries from 30 tribes) 1 Arizona (Pinon) Sarah Ann Johnson (Navajo) 2 Oregon (Cayuse) Sharon Lee Hoptowit (Yakima-Walla Walla) (also 1965 & 1966) 3 Arizona (Second Mesa) Bernita Puhufyestewa (Hopi) 4 Montana (city?) Patricia Ann Little Wolf (Northern Cheyenne) 5 Wisconsin (city?) Rose Minoka Hill (Oneida)
1968 August 4 (38 entries) 1 Montana (Crow Agency) Thomasine Ruth Hill (Crow-Pawnee) 2 New Mexico (Ysidro) Angelina Medina (Zia Pueblo) 3 Washington (Nespelem) Darlene Moses (Colville)
1969 August 3 (39 entries) 1 New Mexico (Albuquerque) Winona Margery Haury (Cheyenne-Arapaho-Navajo-Sioux) 2 Utah (Randlett) Millicent Maxine Natchees (Ute) 3 Wisconsin (Hayward) Kathleen Bender (Chippewa) 4 California (San Lorenzo) Nahdezbah Shirley Harrison (Navajo) 5 Washington (Toppenish) Vicki Herrera (Yakima-Navajo)

1970 August 2 1 Oklahoma (Bacone) Virginia Alice Stroud (Western Cherokee) 2 Oregon (Warm Springs) Deborah Anne Jackson (Wasco-Yakima) 3 New Mexico (Waterflow) Lucinda Yellowman (Navajo) 4 Nevada (Reno) Carol Sanchez (Shoshone) 5 South Dakota (Saint Charles) Wilma Joyce Bear Shield (Rosebud Sioux)
1971 August 1 (30 entries from 27 tribes ) 1 Utah (Kaibeto) Nora Begay (Navajo) 2 Utah (Salt Lake City) Annette Kay Parriette (Ute) 3 Nevada (Owyhee) Clara Manning (Shoshone) 4 Florida (Hollywood) Agnes Marie Bilhe (Seminole) Miss Congeniality Wisconsin (Wisconsin Dells) Diane Stacey (Sioux Winnebago)
1972 July 30 (29 entries) 1 Iidaho (Fort Hall) Louise Sheryl Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock) 2 Utah (Roosevelt) Glenna Ann Jenks (Ute) (3rd RU 1973 & 3rd RU 1977) 3 North Dakota (New Town) Vickie Bird (Mandan-Gros Ventre) 4 Arizona (Sells) Regina Saraficio (Papago) 5 North Dakota (New Town) Deborah Goodbear (Mandan-Hidasta) Miss Congeniality North Dakota (Fort Yates) Winona Two Crow (Sioux)
1973 July 30 (28 entries from 19 tribes) 1 Arizona (Casa Grande) Maxine Henrietta Norris, 21 (Papago) RESIGNED 2 Nevada (Awyhee) Claire Manning (Payute) TOOK OVER TITLE 3 Arizona (Showlow) Claralynn West (White Mountain Apache) 4 Utah (Roosevelt) Glenna Anne Jenks (Ute) (1st RU in 1972 & 3rd RU 1977) Miss Congeniality Nevada (Awyhee) Claire Manning (Paiute) also 1st RU same year	Maxine Henrietta Norris (left) resigned March 4, 1974, after feuding with pageant sponsors about finances and the way the event was run. She was replaced by Claire Manning (right) on March 13
1974 not held due to financial problems 1975 August 4 (24 entries from 15 tribes in 11 states) 1 Oklahoma (Yukon) Deana Jo Harragarra (Kiowa-Otoe) 2 Arizona (White River) Kristine Rayola Harvey (White Mountain Apache) (won 1976) 3 Arizona (San Carlos) Sally Randall (San Carlos Apache)
1976 August 1 (91 entries representing 47 tribes in USA & Canada, narrowed down to 18 entries) 1 Arizona (White River) Kristine Rayola Harvey (White Mountain Apache) (1st RU 1975) 2 Arizona (Parker) Gracie Ann Welsh (Chemehuevi-Mojave-Yavapai) (won 1977) 3 Washington (Harrah) Launa Marie James Teeias (Yakima) 4 New Mexico (Farmington) Rosie Charley (Navajo) 5 California (Morgan Hill) Debra Lynn Clampet (Yankton Sioux)
1977 July 31 1 Arizona (Parker) Gracie Ann Welsh (Chemehuevi-Mojave-Yavapai) (1st RU 1976) 2 California (Menlo Park) Margo Dee Kerrigan (Minnesota Chippewa) 3 Oklahoma (Tulsa) Billie Carol Jones (Osage) 4 Utah (Roosevelt) Glenna Anne Jenks (Ute) (1st RU 1972, 3rd RU 1973) 5 Montana (Lodge Grass) Ada Lois Bends (Crow) Miss Congeniality Arizona (Kayenta) Rosie Tsosie (Navajo)
1978 July 30 1 Oklahoma (Sand Springs) Susan Marie Arkeketa (Otoe-Missouri & Creek)
1979 (not held) 1980 August 3 (18 entries) 1 Wisconsin (Wisconsin Delis) Melanie Lou Tallmadge (Winnebago-Minnesota Sioux) 2 South Dakota (Porcupine) Lolitarose Attack Him (Oglala Sioux) 3 Nevada (Schurz) Anne Louise Willie (Walker River Paiute & White Mountain Apache) (4th RU 1982) 4 New Mexico (Tohatchi) Brenda Allison (Navajo) 5 Florida (Hominy) Angelah Satepauhoodle (Kiowa) Miss Congeniality Idaho (Fort Hall) Ruby Jane LeClair (Shoshone-Bannock)

1981 August 8 (22 entries) 1 South Dakota (Eagle Butte) Jerilyn LeBeau (Cheyenne River Sioux) Miss Congeniality Arizona (Mesa) Marlene Saraficio (Papago)
1982 July 31 (22 entries) 1 Arizona (Sells) Vivian Juan (Papago) 2 Arizona (Oraibi) Dolly Manson (Navajo) 3 Oklahoma (Moore) Linda Kaye Waters (Cherokee & Kiowa) 4 Colorado (Durango) Melinda K. Baker (Southern Ute) 5 Nevada (Schurz) Anne Louise Willie (White Mountain Apache & Walker River Paiute) (2nd RU 1980)	Vivian Juan reigned for two years
1983 not held 1984 August 11 1 Arizona (White River) Anne Louise Willie (White Mountain Apache & Paiute) DETHRONED 2 Arizona (Second Mesa) Deborah Secakuku (Hopi) TOOK OVER TITLE 3 Idaho (Kooskia) Jorja Frances Oberly (Osage-Commanche-Nez Perce) (won 1985) 4 Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) Laurel Ilene “Bunty” Anquoe (Kiowa-Onondaga) 5 Arizona (White River) Agatha Lupe (White Mountain Apache) Miss Congeniality Manitoba, Canada (Dominion City) Lillian Mary Patrick (Ojibway)	Anne Louise Willie was dethroned April 13, 1985 in dispute with the board over finances and personal appearances. She was replaced by Deborah Secakuku on April 21.
Pageant moved to Bismarck, North Dakota 1985 September 7 (20 entries) 1 Idaho (Kooskia) Jorja Frances Oberly (2nd RU 1984) 2 Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) Lauren Ilene Anquoe (Kiowa-Onondaga) (3rd RU 1984) 3 New Mexico (Albuquerque) Sharon Zotigh (Kiowa-Santee Sioux & San Juan Pueblo) Miss Congeniality Alaska (Kotzebue) Roberta J. Ferguson (Inupiag Eskimo)
1986 September 7 (17 entries) 1 Arizona (Window Rock) Audra Arviso (Navajo)
1987 Sept. 13 1 Arizona (White River) Linda Kay Lupe (White Mountain Apache)
1988 Sept. 10 1 Idaho (Fort Hall) Bobette Kay Wildcat (Shoshone)
1989 Sept 9 (18 entries) 1 New Mexico (Crown Point) Wanda Johnson (Navajo) 2 Wyoming (Fort Washakie) Ann Abeyta (Cheyenne)	Wanda Johnson served three years as Miss Indian America. She seems to have been the last titleholder.