Chickasaw Cultural Center to Host 2014 Miss Indian Oklahoma Pageant May 3

Miss Indian Oklahoma and Jr. Miss Indian Oklahoma 2014 will be crowned Sat, May 3 at the 41st annual Miss Indian Oklahoma Pageant. This year's event is hosted by the Chickasaw Nation and will be conducted at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur. Events begin at 3 p.m.

The Miss Indian Oklahoma and Jr. Miss Indian Oklahoma pageant is free and open to the public.

During their one-year reign, Miss Indian Oklahoma and Jr. Miss Indian Oklahoma serve as cultural ambassadors for American Indian people in Oklahoma. The ladies spend the year making appearances at tribal gatherings throughout the state, as well as serving as keynote speakers at various events.

Four young ladies representing a number of tribes are vying for the title of Miss Indian Oklahoma, including: Nancy Deere-Turney, Muscogee; Jordan Harmon, Muscogee; Danielle Culp, Cherokee; and Raven Morgan, Cheyenne.

Contestants will be judged on personal interview, essay, traditional dress, traditional talent and their response to an impromptu question. Each contestant is also required to present a platform, a social issue relevant to Native Americans. Many of the contestant's platforms complement the theme for this year's pageant "End Domestic Violence Through Empowerment."

Contestant Nancy Deere-Turney, 24, is a sophomore at the College of the Muscogee Nation and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Okmulgee. Her platform is Youth Empowerment. She is the daughter of Robert Yargee and Lesah Deere-Yargee, Okmulgee, and she previously served as Jr. Miss Muscogee Creek Nation.

Jordan Harmon, 22, is a senior at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Her platform is Native Americans in Education. She is the daughter of David and Shonday Harmon, Tulsa. She has served as Miss American Indian OSU and Tulsa Powwow Princess.

Danielle Culp is a graduate of Northeastern State University. Her platform is titled "Give me back my voice." Culp, 24, is the daughter of Terry and Ellen Culp, Claremore. She previously served as Jr. Miss Cherokee, Miss Cherokee and Cherokee Gourd Society Princess.

Raven Morgan is a senior at Westmoore High School. Her pageant platform is Domestic Violence. Morgan, 18, is the daughter of LaRenda and Victor Morgan, Oklahoma City.

Four contestants will also participate in the 2014 Jr. Miss Indian Oklahoma pageant; Pakanli Ramsey, Chickasaw; Lindsey Harjo, Seminole; Alexis Tanyan, Iowa; Adelia Brown, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees.

Pakanli Ramsey, 14, is in ninth grade at Ada Junior High. Her pageant platform is Emotional Domestic Violence. She is the daughter of Jennifer Watson, Ada.

Lindsey Harjo's platform is Native American Women Leadership. Harjo, 17, is the daughter of Tina Harjo and Bryan Harjo. She is a senior at McCloud High School and she has previously served as Jr. Miss Indian OKC and Jr. Miss Seminole Nation.

Alexis Tanyan, 16, is the daughter of Tracy and Leslie Tanyan, Oklahoma City. Her platform is Heart Health Awareness for Native Americans. She is a sophomore at Westmoore High School and has served as Iowa Tribal Princess, Jr. Miss Iowa Tribal Princess and Iowa Tiny-Tot Princess.

Adelia Brown, 13, is in the eighth grade at Tahlequah Middle School. Her platform is Bullying in School. She is the daughter of Kimberly-Jumper Brown.

Miss Indian Oklahoma 2013 Robynn Rulo and 2013 Jr. Miss Indian Oklahoma Nikki Amos will be recognized during the pageant.

The pageant is sponsored by the Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women.

Established in 1969, OFIW's mission is "the advancement of the economic and social welfare of the American Indian; the development of education and cultural programs; preservation of Indian culture and traditions; and to portray the true image of the American Indian."

For more information, please contact Andrea Mann, (405) 831-6394, or visit the Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women website, http://www.OFIW.org.