Living Tribute to Miss Indian America and All-American Indian Days

Butch Jellis, deana harragarra waters, and Leonard Bends. harragarra is wearing authentic Kiowa dress.

It was a cool, sunny morning for the Miss Indian America Collective’s Tribute Tree Planting Ceremony on Friday, July 29 at the Kendrick Mansion Arboretum.  Six trees were planted, and more are planned.

The Miss Indian America Collective’s tribute began in July 1951 when two of the top three Sheridan Rodeo Queen finalists were young Crow women. Lucy Yellowmule was the first Native American woman to be elected as Sheridan’s Rodeo Queen, but in spite of that there was an anti-Indian sentiment in Sheridan and throughout much of the West. One of the first local townspeople to recognize the need for corrective action was writer Howard Sinclair, also known as ‘Neck-Yoke Jones.’

At Friday’s ceremony, Judy Slack, Big Horn, introduced Leonard Bends of the Crow Tribe, who talked about his family’s involvement with All-American Indian Days. His grandparents were a big part of helping to get AAID off the ground, and he remembers coming to AAID in Sheridan as a youngster.

He said that Lucy Yellowmule’s winning the WYO Rodeo Queen that year was a great day. “She opened the door for us natives to be recognized in this community as equals.” He mentioned his grandfather, Donald Deernose and said you had to commend those people for all the work they did getting the All-American Indian Days started, and how fast the word got out.

Sheridan Mayor Rich Bridger welcomed the crowd and read a dedication of Sheridan’s Arbor Day Events. Clark Van Hoosier, Sheridan Parks Department, spoke about planting the trees.

Judy Slack talked of the history of All-American Indian Days, and how before the 1940s, the Native American’s were much a part of the Sheridan Community. She added that during the 1940s, something changed and there was a prejudice against the Native Americans. All-American Indian Days helped to change that.

Ucross author, Craig Johnson, who writes the Longmire series of books, read statements from some former Miss Indian Americas who could not attend the tribute, Arlene Westley, MIA I, 1953; Williamette Youpee, MIA X, 1963; Sharron Ahton, MIA XII, 1965; and Virginia Stroud, MIA XVII, 1970.

After Johnson’s reading, Bends again took the mic and explained how the trees were an appropriate tribute to the Miss Indian Americas. He said that Deernose noted that most people look at a tree and see only the leaves and the trunk, but the roots are what gives the tree it’s strength.

He then thanked Judy Slack and the people who are a part of this tribute.

Miss Indian America XXII, 1975, deana harragarra waters, of the Kiowa Tribe, spoke and acknowledged Kathleen Michelena Smith, who was first runner up to Lucy Yellowmule who was the Sheridan WYO Rodeo Queen in 1951. “I’m thankful that her life was a part of the MIA story.” She also acknowledged Reata Cook, the 2022 Sheridan WYO Rodeo queen, and who will be competing for Miss Rodeo Wyoming. She recognized Isabella Yellowtail, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo princess for 2023. She is an advocate for missing and murdered indigenous women.

Harragarra talked about how the tribute came about, and how that in 2013, she came to Sheridan and wanted to find a way to thank Sheridan for starting the All-American Indian Days. “We hoped to live to see something left here. That was the biggest hope we had for people.”

Each Miss Indian American can tell their story, perhaps a story of their tribe, and maybe a song. They plan it to be an educational walk through with paths and benches so people can enjoy the scenery. “We want it to be tranquil,” harragarra said.

Since she was from Oklahoma and now lives in Colorado, both states which were once Kiowa country, she brought Oklahoma and Colorado soil to add to the tree they were planting.

Michele Portwood Robinson, Miss Indian America XI, in 1964, had this to say about the day.

The next speaker was Jerilyn LeBeau Church, MIA XXVII in 1981. She is from the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe in South Dakota and she talked about the tribute.

Susan Arkeketa,Miss Indian America XXV, 1979, is of the The Upper Missouri and Muscogee Creek Tribe and lives in Oklahoma. She felt that this was:

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Annita Wolf Black spoke on behalf of her mother.

In talking about the future of the collective, harragarra said this, “Our goal was to have a piece of art that everyone would agree on, and what better piece of art than a tree? We cannot think of any better artist than our creator.”

Following the ceremony was a showing of the Yellowtail Family movies of the Early Days of All-American Indian Days hosted by Bill and Wailes Yelllowtail at the Sheridan County Fulmer Library Inner Circle. A lunch was also provided.

Those wishing to donate funds to continue the project can contact Judy Slack, at momoslack@gmail.com, or deena harragarra waters at dhwaters@mac.com