Kalle BenallieICT

As one major powwow is being held for the last time, another iconic title will fade alongside it.

The Gathering of Nations is ending this year after 43 years, with it, the title of “Miss Indian World” is too.

Over 41 Indigenous women from across North America have held the title.

They traveled and spoke on behalf of the Gathering of Nations and their tribes. The Gathering of Nations and “Miss Indian World”  was created by Derek and Lita Mathews in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since its inception, it became one of the largest powwows and prestigious pageantry titles in Indigenous communities.

For five days, dozens of contestants prove their public speaking skills, traditional talent, dance, write an essay and conduct an interview.

Now, Dania Wahwasuck, Prairie Band Potawatomi and Pyramid Lake Paiute, will be the last Miss Indian World and the title, “Miss Indian World” can no longer be used further since it’s copyrighted by the Gathering of Nations.

Credit: Former Miss Indian World Kassie John crowning 2025-2026 Miss Indian World winner Dania Wahwasuck in Albuquerque, NM. (Photo by Kalle Benallie)

“To young women who will not have the opportunity to compete moving forward, we ask that you continue to embody qualities of Miss Indian World. Keep practicing and learning about your culture and languages. Continue to shine bright and bring hope to your community. You make us all proud,” the Gathering of Nations posted on their website.

Miss Indian World 2013-2014, Kansas Begaye, said she was emotional finding out it was not continuing because she was once that little girl who felt inspired by Miss Indian World.

2013-2014 Miss Indian World Kansas Begaye. (Photo courtesy of Kansas Begay)

“I really felt that loss that a lot of these young women that have wanted to become Miss Indian World one day, unfortunately won’t be able to fulfil that role in their lives in that dream and that thought of representing their communities in this really great platform,” she said.

Begaye, Diné, said she was one of the winners that didn’t win one year but tried again and succeeded. She feels for those that can’t run again.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of young women that were wanting to vie for that title this year and maybe the next following years, especially I’m sure the ones that had run like last year because, there’s a lot of them that run multiple years and are like, ‘Okay, the next year I got it.’ And unfortunately that’s not going to happen now,” she said.

Begaye hopes that the title can evolve and continue in another form. She said there have been discussions with other winners about the Santa Fe Indian Market being a possible place to continue it but everything is still up in the air.

She added that she hoped what Miss Indian World represented will continue for young Indigenous women.

“I think through all of our legacies. We’ve done that. We have doctors, we have lawyers right now, who are former Miss Indian Worlds, and have continued on that legacy in their own way and have children of their own even and grandchildren. It’s really beautiful to see how far that title has taken a lot of young women,” Begaye said.

Miss Indian World 2006-2007, Violet Duncan, said she’s excited to see other powwows and communities get bigger, especially for northern communities who had harder access to the Gathering of Nations.

But she does feel for current Miss Indian World, Wahwasuck, who will not be able to crown the new winner.

“She doesn’t get that opportunity. And for me, it felt really good because it was like, I’m done. I’ve done my work, and on to the next one, and how do we support our next, this in world, our next sister? How can we keep supporting this program?” Duncan, Plains Cree and Taíno, said.

Duncan said she has talked to other Miss Indian Worlds who think it shouldn’t have to end.

“I firmly agree with that. It didn’t have to. It wasn’t in stride with the powwow. I always felt it was separate and it was beloved and supported by the community all over Indian Country. It was really upsetting,” she said. “The title itself, Miss Indian World, having that in my bio, had definitely opened a lot of doors for me. It’s really unfortunate that all of that work that was put into it is done.”

Duncan said she learned how hard work it was to be Miss Indian World. She had to know her community and what her focus in life was. It was through attending many meetings with tribal leaders and talking to people that she decided literacy was a priority for her and went on to become a book author.

Duncan said Miss Indian World created a community for so many Indigenous women who were just beginning their adult lives.

“When we all came together in that room, all of a sudden, the future just looked so much brighter. It was really exciting to see these educated, empowered, successful in their own ways, women coming from all different communities and kind of proudly representing their nation or tribes,” she said.

Miss Indian World 2003-2004, Onawa Haynes said she is sad that it won’t continue because of how much she gained from the experience and how many others benefited.

“I have a daughter myself. And so one of those things was, wondering if she would be interested in running for Miss Indian World one day,” Haynes, Diné and Muscalero Apache, said.

Haynes who later was on the Miss Indian World committee said he knows how much energy it takes to run the pageant and she would like to see it continue.

“It’s been just one of those things that so many Native girls and Native women have really held as a dream in their heart. It was something that was a dream of mine. I would love for something like that to continue,” she said.

Haynes said it was one of the highlights of her life. Afterwards she would become the CEO and founder of Hozhonigo Consulting, and the founder and president of the Tribal Funding Registry.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to have that chapter in my life. I really am grateful to the Matthews family for the Gathering of Nations, to Melonie (Matthews) and Azella (Humetewa), for everything that they put into the pageant itself because like I said, it’s a lot of work,” Haynes said. “I think that they have really built something that will have a legacy and has meant a lot to a lot of people.”

The post Former Miss Indian Worlds react to the pageant ending after 42 years appeared first on ICT.

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