ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The 42nd annual Gathering of Nations attracted thousands of spectators, dancers and drummers from around Indian Country and beyond April 24-26 at EXPO New Mexico in Albuquerque.

An integral part of the GON was the Miss Indian World pageant, which kicked off with the talent competition April 24. The pageant had 23 contestants this year, including two from the Seminole Tribe of Florida: Miss Florida Seminole CeCe Thomas and former Miss Florida Seminole Thomlynn Billie. It was the first time the tribe had more than one contestant in the contest.

During the talent competition, Thomas displayed three of her paintings and described the Seminole Tribe’s clan system depicted in them. Billie chose storytelling as her talent and told the story of the goodhearted and the evil spirit.

During GON, the contestants participated in four Grand Entries, two horse parades, competed in public speaking and dance contests and finally participated in the crowning of a new MIW.

“This was an experience I never thought I’d ever have,” Thomas said. “I love being with all the girls and getting to know them. I found new besties and new friends. I’m doing this for my people and my family, I want to win that title for them.”

The contestants were divided into small groups. Thomas and Billie were in separate groups, so they didn’t spend a lot of time together. But they were both glad to have another tribal member nearby.

“She’s my piece of home,” Thomas said. “I was nervous coming in, but now I’m more confident. Everyone is so encouraging. It’s a warm feeling you get when everyone is cheering for you, it’s the best feeling.”

Since this was Billie’s second time competing for the MIW crown, she had a seasoned perspective.

“I love this feeling of being around Native girls who want to represent their tribes, it’s a feeling of unity,” Billie said.

After the competition last year, Billie was left with so much joy and happiness that she decided to do it again.

“I was eligible, so I thought why not?” she said. “It’s an exciting thing, being able to learn about other cultures and traditions. If it wasn’t for this competition, I wouldn’t know that we have so many similarities.”

Although she didn’t see Thomas that often, they did check in with each other from time to time.

“I’m happy to be here again and do this with CeCe,” Billie said. “And with Cheyenne [Kippenberger] here, there are more Seminoles here than anyone else.”

Kippenberger, former MIW and Miss Florida Seminole, is a MIW committee member. She helped get people checked into the Grand Entry as they made their way onto the arena floor, did stage production and was part of the crowning ceremony.

“I do everything,” Kippenberger said. “Whatever they need, I do.”

During the Grand Entry on April 25, the announcer spoke as the dancers spiraled around the arena floor into an ever tighter mass of people dancing in colorful regalia.

“We promote this, it is our way of life,” the announcer said. “We want to make a statement, we represent DEI.”

Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and current candidate for governor of New Mexico, spoke via video, where she welcomed everyone from other places.

“We dance and sing to honor our ancestors and represent who we are as Indigenous people,” Haaland said. “We come from people who survived and persevered. What we have and who we are is something to be proud of. We are everywhere, we break barriers and strive to build better futures for those who come after us.”

MIW contestants participated in a public speaking contest on Stage 49 April 25. The contestants pulled a question out of a basket, which they answered to the best of their abilities. Although some of the questions had nothing to do with culture, the girls managed to weave that important aspect of their lives
into their answers.

Some of the questions were: If you were a cookie, what kind would you be? What celebrity has influenced you and why? If you were on the hunt, what would you be hunting for? If you were the leader of your
tribe, what is the first thing you would do?

Thomas brought the answer to the hunting question back to the Everglades and Seminole culture with her answer.

“If I was going to hunt, I’d choose the alligator and use it for all our needs,” she said. “I’d go out to the swamp to wrestle one and bring it back to my family and camp.”

Billie drew the question about which celebrity influences her. She cited Tia Wood, Cree and Salish, a pop singer-songwriter from Canada.

“Tia Wood, the singer,” Billie said. “She inspires me and makes me feel more Native and I love listening to her.”

Parents and family members of the contestants were not allowed to be with their daughters during the contest. They shared a hotel room, so they were together only at night.

Thomas lost her father last year, and her mother Cecilia Tommie wasn’t sure about her daughter competing in MIW.

“She’s having a great time, she’s emotional about it,” she said. “We cried together last night. I wasn’t ready for this. It’s a blessing and I’m glad she is putting herself out there. She’s the one who likes to learn and experience new things. We are so proud of her, no matter what happens.”

Thomas’s siblings Conner and Camryn also attended the event. It was the family’s first time at GON.

“It’s fulfilling to have her doing this,” Conner said. “Our family is a people family; the Princess pageant and this matches her. She is doing this for the tribe. Her mentality is to represent us, her family, and the Tribe. It makes me happy.”

“She is doing amazing,” Camryn said. “It’s crazy that we are here. I thank God that we can experience this with her. She is staying true to herself and it’s cool that we’re getting to see her in her element. She is a social butterfly, I’m really proud of her.”

Jr. Miss Florida Seminole Violet Osceola attended GON with her family and took a side trip to the Navajo School, where she learned about their traditional rug making process and met with the students. She also
participated in the Grand Entries with other princesses from Indian Country.

“It’s important for them [Navajo students] to learn things at a young age so they can carry it on,” Osceola said. “The Grand Entry was really cool seeing everyone in their regalia. I love getting to meet royalty from around the country and see how similar we are. We are all from different areas, but we connect through our culture. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

Immokalee seniors Marylou Alvarado, Rebecca Martinez, Frances Pelky and Connie Slavik went to GON and other locations near Albuquerque. The group went to Santa Fe where they toured the Santa Fe Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and to Sandia Peak, where they took a three mile hike on the snowcapped mountain.

The seniors were accompanied by elder services site manager Demi Garza and activity coordinator. Zakir Esparza. A dinner with Chairman Marcellus W. Osceola and Brighton Board Rep. Bryan Arledge capped off the trip.

“It’s my first time here and I love it,” Martinez said. “It’s good to be with my people from different tribes, I feel like there is a connection.”

It was also Marylou Alvarado’s first time at GON.

“I went to boarding school in Oklahoma and attended pow wows then,” Alvarado said. “I even participated in the dance with a blanket. This brings back a lot of memories of school.”

“It’s beautiful here and I’m enjoying it very much,” Pelky said. “It’s good to meet people from different nations and to get out of my own environment for a while.”

During the final Grand Entry April 26, six drum groups set up in the center of the arena floor playing the songs together and created a powerful sound as thousands of dancers entered the floor and encircled the drums.

After the Grand Entry, the announcer introduced the Miss Indian World contestants and said they came “all the way from Alaska to the Seminoles in Florida and everywhere in between.” The MIW committee all wore matching pink, sparkly patchwork skirts and denim jackets as they helped contestants, handed out the awards and, finally, the crown.

Miss Indian World 2025 is Dania Wahwasuck (Prairie Band of Potawatomi). First runner- up was Kegona Tenasco (Anishinabe), second runner-up was Niagara Rockbridge (Navajo) and Miss Congeniality was Analynn Olney (Yakama). Wahwasuck won the best essay and best dancer honors. Best public speaker was Laney Lupe (White Mountain Apache), best interview was Niagara Rockbridge (Navajo), and best talent was Malene Avila Miller (Ute Tribe).