Largo wins Miss Indian USU title at pageant
Cassi Largo, a sophomore majoring in art history, won USU’s Miss Indian USU Pageant Wednesday night, becoming the new Miss Indian USU for 2011-12 and replacing the previous Miss Indian USU, Gabrielle George.
Dawnelle John, a sophomore majoring in social work, took the award of first attendant, second attendant went to Jeorcinda Slick, a senior in Environmental Chemistry and Karli Muir, an elementary education major, took third attendant.
The Miss Indian USU Pageant, presented by the Native American Student Council (NASC), is similar to most pageants in that the program consists of a group performance, an individual talent portion and impromptu questioning for each candidate with various performances in between each section.
The pageant began with the introduction of the contestants, a vocal performance by JC Almontes from the Latino Student Union and then a contemporary group dance performed by the contestants to the song “Jai Ho.” Following the dance, the Polynesian Student Union did a Tahitian dance and afterwards the contestants each performed their individual contemporary talents.
Largo began the talent competition with an American Sign Language performance accompanied by Benson Adams to Colbie Callait and Jason Mraz’s duet, “Lucky.” Muir followed performing a glow-in-the-dark basketball routine complete with black lights and a glowing basketball. John presented a collection of photographs she took as a hobby, and explained the significance of each photo in her personal life, and Slick showed the beaded jewelry she hand-crafted and explained the process in making such jewelry and the meaning behind some of the beaded symbols.
The traditional talent section is a unique quality exclusive to the Miss Indian USU pageant, that most other pageants don’t have.
The traditional talent section included a group number with the contestants performing sign language to the song “Friendship Fire” played by the live band The Woodrow Wilsons and sung by Miss Indian USU 2009-10 Karrie Begay and adviser Sam Curley.
For the individual traditional talents, Muir began the section with a shawl dance using some of the techniques she learned from performing in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.
Largo followed with a cradle board presentation, explaining the symbols and meanings behind the utilitarian function of such a cradle and demonstrated the proper way to strap a baby into a cradle board.
Next was John, who demonstrated the art of spinning wool into yarn which can then be used for rug weaving.
Slick was last for traditional talent, making Blue Mush from water, a blue corn powder and plant ash from tree leaves in a demonstration to the audience.
Each of these talents was specific to the Native American culture, specifically to each contestant’s tribe and had been taught to them by earlier generations.
Following the traditional talents, the judges deliberated on a winner. Judges of the pageant included Joyce Albrecht, wife of USU President Stan Albrecht, Eric Olson, associate vice president for student services and Angela Enno, a Native American graduate student.
– allie.jeppson@aggiemail.usu.edu