NEWS :: Red Cloud Indian School

Red Cloud Elementary School eighth grader named Junior Miss Oglala Lakota Nation
posted on August 12, 2009

Hundreds of residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota gathered together at the beginning of August for the 24th Annual Oglala Lakota Nation Powwow, Fair and Radio, a weekend-long celebration celebrating the rich history and traditions of the Lakota people.

Each year, as part of the powwow, young women compete for the crown of Miss Oglala Lakota Nation, Junior Miss Oglala Lakota Nation and Little Miss Oglala Lakota Nation. The pageant attracts ladies from across the reservation to participate in a series of competitions that test their knowledge in a variety of cultural-related topics.

This year, Red Cloud Elementary School Eighth Grader Cassandra Black Horn was named Junior Miss Oglala Lakota Nation, accepting the crown from Stephanie Garnier, another Red Cloud student and last year’s Junior Miss winner.

“It truly is an honor to have been named Miss Junior Oglala Lakota Nation,” Black Horn said after winning the crown. “This whole experience has been exciting.

“I attend the powwow every year with my family, but this year was extra thrilling for me because I was able to take part in this pageant,” she went on to say. “It’s been a full, memorable week, from interviews with the pageant committee to the dance competition and speaking to all the attendees of the powwow.”

Known locally as an avid dancer in the powwow community and a member of the Red Cloud Indian School Dance Club, Black Horn shared her fancy shawl style of dancing during the competition. She also shared her knowledge of the Lakota language and culture as she talked about the four sacred circles in her Native Lakota language.

“My parents and grandmother taught me about honoring my own people—and all people—by sharing these teachings with others,” she said. “I hope those who listened to my words came away with new knowledge and understanding.”

Her mother, Gayla Black Horn, says the title “means the world to her. She did a wonderful job throughout the competition, and I feel proud knowing that she’ll represent our nation as she grows as a young woman.”

For the next year, Black Horn will represent the Lakota Nation at a number of events locally and regionally.

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