"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Seeks Contestants

"Miss Cherokee 2007, Lindsay Glass, will help crown a new Miss Cherokee during the
56th Annual Cherokee National Holiday held in Tahlequah over Labor Day weekend."

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition that will be held in conjunction with the 56th Annual Cherokee National Holiday. The competition will take place on Saturday, August 23, at 7 p.m., at Cornerstone Church, located at 718 Pendleton Street in Tahlequah.

“The Miss Cherokee competition has become one of the most exciting events of the Cherokee National Holiday,” said Nancy Scott, event coordinator. “The competition is a way to promote leadership among young Cherokee females and is a wonderful means for young Cherokee women to promote the values and heritage that have been a part of Cherokee culture and tradition for generations.”

The purpose of the Miss Cherokee Leadership Competition is to identify young women with leadership abilities to represent the Cherokee Nation, its citizens and communities. The chosen candidate will serve as a goodwill ambassador and messenger to promote the government, history, language and culture of the Cherokee people.

“The competition is based on more than outward beauty,” said Scott. “Candidates will be judged on integrity, communication skills and respectfulness. Miss Cherokee will serve as a role model and will be expected to exemplify the best qualities of Cherokee youth.”

Contestants will compete for a $3,000 grand prize scholarship. The first runner-up will receive a $2,000 scholarship and the second runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Participants will be judged on leadership/community involvement, the presentation of their chosen platform, cultural presentation, interview, social skills and their usage of Cherokee language.

Contestants for Miss Cherokee must be between the ages of 17 and 22 by Saturday, August 23, 2008. All participants must be at least one-fourth Cherokee, possess a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood card and be a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation. All candidates must be a high school graduate or have successfully completed a G.E.D. testing program for high school equivalency. Contestants cannot have been married or have ever cohabitated, cannot have children or have previously served as Miss Cherokee. In addition, contestants must never have been convicted of any crime or have any criminal charges pending. Applications must be postmarked Friday, July 18.

“I encourage all eligible young women to participate,” said Scott. “Representing the Cherokee people as Miss Cherokee is an honor and is an experience that winners and contestants will carry with them for the rest of their life. I would also like to stress that serving as Miss Cherokee requires a commitment. The winner must be willing to accept a busy and exciting schedule throughout the course of the year following the competition.”

The Cherokee National Holiday has been held since 1953 in tribute to the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. It has grown into one of the largest events in Oklahoma, attracting more than 90,000 visitors from across the world.

Each year a theme is chosen for the Cherokee National Holiday that celebrates Cherokee Nation’s rich heritage and culture. The 2008 theme is "di ni yo tli u na li s de lv do di, Planting the Seed Corn for our Children's Future."

“In this theme, we honor all the Cherokee parents and grandparents whose everyday actions are dedicated to establishing strong, self-sufficient children and communities. Cherokee community members have great respect for these individuals who care and plan for the Cherokee Nation’s leaders of tomorrow,” said Smith.

Check out the new 56th Annual Cherokee National Holiday web site.

For more information or for an application packet contact Nancy Scott, phone: 918-453-5259.