District teen captures pageant

FORT FRANCES—Carissa Copenace is continuing to live up to her Anishinaabe name, “Nigaan-niga-bawik,” which means female leader, after being crowned Miss Manito Ahbee last week during “A Festival for All Nations” international competition pow-wow in Winnipeg.
Months ago, the Fort Frances High School student and member of Rainy River First Nations was appointed as a national role model for aboriginal youth.
And she said she used that experience to help with the Miss Manito Ahbee competition.
“It got me prepared by helping me improve my speaking,” Copenace noted Monday. “I felt really confident in the interview . . . and I was able to just go up there and talk.
“I also feel more comfortable approaching people and learning new things.”
Having competed in the first-annual Miss Manito Ahbee pageant last year, Copenace knew what the judges were looking for, particularly in the areas of dance, public speaking, knowledge of tribal tradition, and a private interview.
“You could see how much the family wanted to find someone to inspire others,” she remarked, adding the Miss Manito Ahbee competition is held in honour of the late Felicia Solomon, who died in Winnipeg in 2003 at the age of 16.
“When they called my name, I went into shock,” Copenace recalled. “I hugged the [Solomon] family and then my parents came up and I started crying. . . .
“It was really exciting.”
She said her parents, Sam and Cheryl, are incredibly proud of her and that she has received a lot of support from her friends and community members.
“I just want to be a positive role model to show others that it is possible to achieve your goals,” Copenace stressed. “I want to encourage kids, especially aboriginal kids, that to reach your goals you need support and education.”
As Miss Manito Ahbee, the busy 17-year-old will be travelling to participate and speak at pow-wows across North America, including the Schemitzun Feast of Green Corn and Dance in Connecticut and Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow in Albuquerque, N.M.
“They’re some of the biggest pow-wows you can go to,” Copenace noted, adding she’s excited to see the Miss Indian World pageant, which will take place at Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow.
“Miss Manito Ahbee is just a few steps down from Miss Indian World and one day I want to compete it that,” she vowed.
Aside from being involved in the National Aboriginal Role Models program and now being Miss Manito Ahbee, Copenace leads an extremely busy life participating in many groups and activities.
She grew up learning the Ojibway language, traditions, and customs, and she is an accomplished jingle dress dancer—having started at the tender age of six.
She also helps her mother in beading her own regalia.
In addition, Copenace has attained a black belt in Taekwondo, acts as editor for the Fort Frances High School’s newspaper, “The Fish Tank,” and developed the first “Aboriginal People’s Page.”
Copenace also earns excellent grades in school and has received many awards for her academic achievements, including the Citizenship Award, Princess of Rainy River First Nations, and the Ontario Principal’s Award for Student Leadership.
Upon graduation, Copenace plans to pursue a post-secondary degree in education at a university in Manitoba (or somewhere close to home), then she intends to apply for a scholarship to Harvard to obtain a Ph.D.
She also wants to establish a career, raise a family, and travel.
“I want to help aboriginal youth so they can keep growing in a world that doesn’t really seem to fit their style,” Copenace remarked, noting she will be very involved in the crowning of next year’s Miss Manito Ahbee princess.
She wants to make some bead work for the top three girls and will host an old-style special during next year’s event. She would like her grandmother to judge the dance.
“Some people don’t know the meaning behind dancing,” Copenace said. “But I don’t care if I win, I just want to dance.”
She added she hopes she can continue to be a role model and help all aboriginal youth to feel special.
“We are a gift from the Creator. Honour and respect the gift of you,” Copenace stressed. “I believe a lot of aboriginal kids think they are not worth it, but they are.
“They should learn to honour and respect everything around them.”
(Fort Frances Times)