Ksim Nisga'a Enters National 'Miss Canada Teen Globe' Pageant
For 15 years old Shaina Stephens is an incredibly poised, confident and well-spoken Ksim Nisga’a – making her an ideal candidate to represent her family, her home community of Laxgalts’ap and the Nisga’a Nation in Miss Teen Canada Globe 2016!
Shaina also likes to take initiative, taking it upon herself with the support of her family to make application to Miss Canada Globe Productions – a non-profit organization based in Toronto for what Shaina explains is to promote confidence in young women.
As part of her pageantry, Shaina will promote the awareness of cultural appropriation. What is cultural appropriation? While there are varying definitions, to Shaina it is the exploitation of a culture by dominant society. In the context of Indigenous culture in North America, Shaina views the stereotypical “Indian” costumes as false portrayal of the diversity within Indigenous society and endeavors to see such costumes removed from store shelves in Canada.
As we reported in the summer of 2015, Shaina was the lone female with 4 male counterparts that participated in the Nisga’a Museum’s intense six week ‘Expanding Traditions’ art mentorship project where she was mentored by Museum Staff and Senior Nisga’a Carvers Calvin McNeil and Gerald Robinson. Shaina selected the “Woman with Labret” mask from the Ancestor’s Collection to study and replicate. Shaina’s impressive finished product remains on display at the Nisga’a Museum.
Indeed Shaina is incredibly proud of her Nisga’a culture and can also be seen sitting attentively in the feast hall, or vividly cultural dancing and singing at Hoobiyee and other cultural functions. “My regalia is not a costume and I want to raise awareness of that” proclaimed Shaina.
The August pageant will also include public participation via online voting in People’s Choice awards, so since receiving confirmation that she’s been accepted in to the Miss Canada Teen Globe, Shaina hit the ground running promoting her candidacy in various events such as the annual Salmon Fest cultural dance celebration hosted by Gitmaxmak’ay in Prince Rupert on May 27 and the Seafest parade also in Prince Rupert on June 11. You’ll also see her at the Aboriginal Day festivities in Gitlaxt’aamiks on June 17 and in the River Boat Days parade in Terrace in July.
In addition to promotional events, Shaina and her family have also been fundraising to meet her financial goals for her to participate in the pageant. Shaina’s hosted fundraising events such as food sales and raffles to work toward her goals.
Shaina will travel to Toronto, Ontario for participation in the pageant from August 3 – 14, 2016. In addition to pageant participation, Shaina will also undergo pageant and media training, as her candidacy will also include public appearances in Toronto such as sports games and amusement parks.
Shaina is Ksim Laxgibuu from Wilps Duuk’ and is from the Nisga’a Village of Laxgalts’ap. Her parents are Marsha Moore and Trinity Stephens. Her grandparents are Shirley Moore and (late) Steve Moore, Sr., and Earl and Janet Stephens.
Si’aamhl wilin and best wishes in your journey to Miss Canada Teen Globe, Shaina!