Peggy Revell
Carissa Copenace will be representing local First Nations to the world as she competes in the “Miss Indian World” competition in Albuquerque, N.M. at the end of April.
“When I was 14, I saw my first Miss Indian World and I knew her, I still know her, and she was just beautiful and she just represented everything our people are,” explained Copenace, who hails from Manitou Rapids/Rainy River First Nations but currently is attending university in Winnipeg.
“I just wanted to be her,” she added. “I was 14, and I’ve been waiting for four years.”
The Miss Indian World competition invites aboriginal women from around the globe to participate and takes place during the “Gathering of Nations Pow-wow,” now in its 26th year, in Albuquerque.
“Miss Indian World is based on the knowledge of tribal traditions, your raffle ticket sales, your traditional talent presentation—I’m doing the traditional jingle dress teachings from Northern Ontario—and we have a dance competition, and public speaking, and a private interview,” noted Copenace, who is now 18.
“It’s really exciting, I’m going crazy already,” she laughed. “There’s a lot to do.
“My mom and dad made me all new regalia, and I’ve been working on my talent presentation because they have a great big night, and make a night out of it,” she explained. “It’s all fancy and everyone dresses up and then we go on stage and do our presentations for three minutes and we’re judged on them.
“And then practising my public speaking skills and my private interview. Just practising random questions.”
Copenace is no stranger to the spotlight, having been named Miss Rainy River First Nations twice, as well as Miss Manito Ahbee for 2007/08 for Manitoba’s “Manito Ahbee”—A Festival for all Nations, which also previously gave her the opportunity to travel to the “Gathering of Nations Pow-wow” as a representative.
Copenace was also selected as National Aboriginal Role Model for 2007.
For Miss Indian World, Copenace also has some big support behind her, including being sponsored by Manitoba’s Heritage and Culture minister Eric Robinson, and Lisa Meeches, the well-known executive producer and president of the Winnipeg-based production companies, Eagle Vision Inc. and Meeches Video Productions.
“There’s a group of women in Manitoba who have been key to helping her prepare, as well as elders from Whitefish Bay and our own First Nation that have helped her prepare,” noted her mother, Cheryl Copenace.
“Making sure she has her teachings firmly grounded, as well as her languages, speaking her languages and correct in how she says it.”
“The amount of support is just amazing . . . it makes it more exciting,” Carissa Copenace enthused.
“It’s a big deal. It’s hard to describe,” she said about what it’s like being in the running with so much support. “Everyone’s behind you and everyone’s supporting you, and it’s like ‘You can do it! You can do it! You better win!’”
For those wanting to show support, raffle tickets—part of the competition—can be purchased at both the United Native Friendship Centre or Circle of Life Centre here up until April 17.
Besides the competition, one thing Copenace is looking forward is to meeting the 27 other contestants.
“I’m excited to meet all the other girls and learn about their cultural ways, and make new friends,” she remarked.
And while she does hope to bring back the crown, Copenace also hopes this will help inspire young girls like she herself was inspired.
“I’ve heard other girls talk—they had never even met Miss Indian World, they had met a contestant, and even that inspired them to go out on their own, and think ‘I hope I can do that’ and have some little girl look up to me like that, or even a boy if he wants to!”
