THIS PAGE INCLUDES THE FORMATION OF ALL AMERICAN INDIAN DAYS
MISS INDIAN AMERICA NAMES’
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LUCY YELLOWMULE’S GENEALOGY
1955 MISS INDIAN AMERICA CONTEST, SHERIDAN, WY..

 

ALL AMERICAN INDIAN DAYS and NATIONAL MISS INDIAN AMERICA PAGEANT as told by Don Diers to Edith Dawdy and Beverly Gorzalka

Lucy Yellowmule, a Crow Indian girl, (from Wyola, MT) was elected to be Queen of the 1952 Sheridan Wyo Rodeo. The Sheridan community was the first one in the United States and in rodeo history to have elected by popular vote, an Indian girl to reign over its annual rodeo.

At this time, there were signs in shops and cafe windows in Sheridan, "No Indians or Dogs Allowed," and"No Indians Served here." F. H. Sinclair," Neckyoke Jones," felt this emphasized the need for greater effortsin the relations between the Indians and the communityof Sheridan. He asked Lucy's family for support in a movement to better relations between Indians and non-Indians.

By publicizing Lucy on radio, in newspapers, personal appearances at rodeos, before civic groups, at different kinds of meetings and in private homes, describingthe historic background of Lucy and her four Indian attendants, public opinion was aroused to the point where discriminatory signs disappeared in Sheridan.When it was announced at the Sheridan communityhad been awarded the"Silver Anvil" National Honor award by American Public Relations Association , a dollar drive was started to send Lucy and her attendants,Joy Old Crow, Alta Driftwood, Regina Spotted Horse, and Evangeline Whiteman to Washington, D.C. to accept the award on behalf of the community. Neckyoke,Mrs. Sinclair (chaperone), and Don Diers(photographer) accompanied the girls.

Lucy received the Silver Anvil from the Secretary of the Interior,DouglasMcKay, on March3 , 1953.While in Washington,the girls appeared on television, radio, Voice of America, in newspapers and, talked with senators and government officials about Indian life on the reservation.

From this came the inspiration for Indian Days. The Goals in mind were the preservation of age-old rituals tribal games, clothing, arts and crafts, dances, language,stories and history of the many tribes of Indian people. Neckyoke, Donald Deernose and Don Diers were instrumental in organizingt the first All American lndian Day.

The first All American Indian Day was held in conjunction with the SheridanW yo Rodeo, July 18, 1953,and was sponsored
b y the Ford Dealers of the Rocky Mountain States. Lucy Yellowmule led 3,000 Indiansfrom 2l tribes in a parade down Main Street. After the evening rodeo, withJoe Medicine Crow as Master ofCeremonies, Arlene Wesley from the Yakima Tribe
was chosen Miss Indian America I.

The Kalif Management Corporation produced and managed All American Indian Days from 1954-1957.During this time it was part of the Sheridan Wyo Rodeo. In 1956, there were 4,000 Indians from 40 tribesin Sheridan for the event.

All American Indian Days was recessed in 1958. The All American Indian Days Corporations were formed, and the celebration was then a separate event from the rodeo. The Rev. Raymond H. Clark was instrumental in organizing an interdenominational morning outdoor church service. The sermon has always been delivered by an Indian clergyman the choir is largely Indian,with members of the various church choirs of Sheridan.

A moving interpretation of the Lord's Prayer is given in sign language by members of various tribes.

Over the years he packed grandstands at the Fairgrounds and many have had the chance to see many special dances, ceremonials, dance contests and traditional games.

At the fashion show the candidates for Miss Indian American wore their traditional tribal dress. Artists and craftsmen have exhibited authentic Indian pictures, fancy beadwork, basketry, silver work, pottery, leather craft and feather work at the arts and crafts exhibit.

The candidates for Miss Indian America have had the opportunity to meet, talk, and make friends with girls from all parts of the country. Learning of customsdress and crafts that are entirely different from one's own.

The reigning Miss Indian American is considered to be a cultural ambassador between Native Americansand non-Indians through speaking engagements, public appearances participating in conferences conducted by federal, state, local and tribal governments and visiting educational institutions and Indian reservations.

 

The Miss Indian America title holders are:

ArleneWesley, Yakima, MIA-I, 1953

 

Mary Louise Defender, Yanktanais-Sioux,M IA-II, 1954:

 

 Rita Mclaughlin,Hunkpapa-SiouxM, IA-III, 1955

 

 SandraG over, Skili-Pawnee, MIA-IV, 1956

 

 Ruth Larson, Gros Ventre, MIA-V, 1957

 

 Delores Racine, Blackfeet, MIA-VI,1959

 

Vivian Arviso, Navajo, MIA-VII, 1960

 

 Brenda Bearchum, Northern Cheyenne, MIA-VIII, 196l

 

Ramona Soto, Klamath, MIA-IX, 1962

 

Williamette Youpee, Sisseton-YanktonSioux MIA-X, 1963

 

Michele Portwood, Arapahoe, MIA-XI, 1964

 

 Marcelle Ahtone, Kiowa, MIA-XII, 1965

 

 Wahleah Lujan, TaosPueblo, MIA-XIII, 1966

 

 Sarah Johnson, Navajo,MIA-XIV, 1967

 

 ThomasineHill, Crow-PawneeM, IAXV,1968

 

 Margery Haury, Cheyenne-Arapahoe-Navajo-SiouxM, IA-XVI, 1969

 

Virginia Stroud ,Cherokee, MIA-XVII, 1970

 

 Nora Begay, Navajo, MIAXVIII, l97l1

 

LouiseE dmo, Shoshone-BannocMkI,A -XIX, 1972

 

Maxine Norris, Papago, MIA-XX, 1973

 

Claire Manning, Shoshone-PaiuteM, IA-XXI, 1974

 

Deana Jo harragarra, Otoe-Kiowa, MIA-XXII, 1975

 

Kristine Harvey, White Mountain Apache, MIA-XXIII,

1976

 

 Gracie Welch, Mohave-Chemehuevi-Yavapai,MIA-XXIV, 1977

 

 Susan Arkeketa, Otoe-Missouria and Creek, MIA-XXV, 1978-79

 

Melanie Tallmadge,Winnebago-MinnesotaS ioux, MIA-XXVI, 1980

 

Jerilyn Lebeau, Cheyenne River Sioux, MIA-XXVII,l98l

 

Vivian Juan, Papago, MIA-XXVIII, 1982

 

LUCY YELLOW MULE: A description of her genealogy.

 (written in 1953 by NeckYoke Jones)

 

Queen Lucy was born on the Crow reservation in Montana, a short distance from the town of Wyola. Her family is a noted one in both tribal and Montana history.

 

 On the Indian side she is descended from a long line of prominent men of the tribe, warriors and chiefs—wishes men who guided the tribe, kept it friendly to the whites and prevented the Crows from becoming embroiled in frontier squabbles which might have meant extermination by the white troops, such as what happened to some other tribes of Indians.

 

Her great grandfather was a white man, Thomas H. LeForge, a descendent of French Huguenot ancestry,. He came west in the early 1860,s over the Bridger trail, with a wagon train. His life history is recounted in the book “Memoirs of a White Crow Indian: written by the late Dr. Thomas B. Marquis of Hardin MT.

 

LaForge’s daughter, Rosa married Charles Dillon, a Sioux, who was a famous Carlisle football star of more than 40 years ago ( abt. 1903). On their wedding tour they were entertained by President Theordore Roosevelt at the White House. The Dillions both school teachers on the reservation where Lucy Yellow Mule’s maternal grandparents.

 

Queen Lucy’s mother died from accidental burns while Lucy was very small. Her father Marin Yellow Mule remarried and she was raised by her mothers brother, Thomas A. La Forge of Wyola with whom she now lives. La Forge had two sons, cousins of Lucy, but more like brothers to her. The eldest Dan, served with the 92st Division in World War II. He was seriously wounded three times, having served on the North African, Siciliam and Italian fronts. He died after returning home from ailments arising from serfice disabilities. The youngest brother also served as a mechanic in England during the blitz.

 

While she is listed on the Indian bureau records as Lucy Yellow Mule, she has an Indian name, following the custom of her people which provides that every Crow has an individual as well as a family name.

 

In the Crow language she carries the name “Hokh-Kash-Haych-Lay” which literally translated means “She-sits-amid-the-maize-but freely means :She Dwells Where The Corn Grows.: The name was given her by the wife of famous chief, Medicine Crow, whoe phtograph is very familiar to Sheridan people as it has been reproduced many times on post cards. An enlargement hung for some years in the Edelman drug store. The word “medicine: to the plains Indian did not have reference to a drug or remedy but meant holy or sacred. more will be added.

 

 

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