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Miss Blackfoot Canada pageant part of International Peace Pow Wow |
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Written by Sherri Gallant Lethbridge Herald
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Wednesday, February 24 2010, 10:31 PM |
During her year as Miss Blackfoot Canada, Andrea True Joy Fox was blessed with numerous opportunities that continue to help her as time goes by.
Fox, who was 2008 Miss Blackfoot Canada and in the top five at the Miss Indian World competition, is pageant co-ordinator for this year’s event, which coincides this weekend with the 10th annual International Peace Powwow at the Enmax Centre.
“The pageant experience gives young women an opportunity to evaluate where they’re at as far as goals and accomplishments up to this point in their lives, and to think about where they want to go in their future,” said Fox, a teacher at Ecole St. Mary’s School in Lethbridge.
“You’re not only representing yourself, you’re representing the Blackfoot Confederacy, which represents the four tribes.”
Fox was in the midst of her education degree when she won the title, making classes and student teaching more challenging than they already are.
“I wouldn’t call it a sacrifice at all, I’d call it an opportunity for more doors to be open to you as an individual,” she said. “It definitely was a busy year. I was finishing up university and also preparing for Miss Indian World, which happened that spring, doing fundraising, making appearances. I did have very understanding and supportive professors because there were times I did need to be away from school.”
When she became overwhelmed and felt the need to restore balance to her life, Fox turned to her supportive family. She said this year’s pageant winner should be mindful of who her greatest supporters are and remember to rely on them when she needs to.
“I feel very blessed to have had parents who gave their time and allowed me to have different opportunities as a child growing up, and the major areas were in sports and the fine arts.”
Fox said being Miss Blackfoot Canada gave her many opportunities to share her culture with others, but added it often became a cross-cultural exchange, with her learning as much as she was teaching. Now that she’s a Blackfoot Ambassador, she always will be, she said.
Blackfoot women aged 18 to 25 who are interested in the pageant, or those 13 to 17 who are interested in Miss Blackfoot Canada Junior, can get application forms at www.blackfoot.ca or at the Blackfoot Art Gallery in Lethbridge Centre Mall. The winner receives cash and prizes as well as sponsorship to the Miss Indian World competition. The winner will be crowned Sunday at the end of the powwow.
The International Peace Pow Wow is organized by the Blackfoot Canadian Cultural Society, a non-profit group working with aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities in southern Alberta. The society also organizes the Aboriginal Artists Awards, the Miss Blackfoot Canada Pageant, the Blackfoot Art Gallery, and more.
Grand Entry takes place Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Children six and under get in free, students and seniors $9.50 and adults $12.50.
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