Miss Indian America was a pageant from 1953 to 1989 that was part annual All-American Indian Days festival in Sheridan, Wyoming. Each contestant was assessed on the basis of her appearance, communication skills, knowledge and practice of her culture, knowledge of tribal, federal and state governments and talent in traditional and contemporary tribal skills.
The reigning Miss Indian American was considered to be a cultural ambassador between Native Americans and non-Native Americans through speaking engagements, public appearances, participation in conferences of federal, state, local and tribal governments.
In 2017, Montana: The Magazine of Western History published a full history of the pageant.
Winners Year Winner Nation1989 Wanda Johnson Navajo1988 Bobette Kay Wildcat Shoshone1987 Linda Kay Lupe White Mountain Apache1986 Audra Arviso Navajo1985 Jorja Frances Oberly Osage-Commanche-Nez Perce1984 Anne-Louise Willie White Mountain Apache-Paiute1983Debbie SecakukuHopi1982 Vivian Juan Tohono O'odham1981 Jerilyn Lebeau Cheyenne River Sioux1980 Melanie Tallmadge Winnebago-Minnesota Sioux1978-9 Susan Arkeketa Otoe-Missouria/Muscogee Creek1977 Gracie Welch Mohave-Chemehuevi-Yavapai1976 Kristine Rayola Harvey White Mountain Apache1975 Deana Jo Harragarra Otoe-Kiowa1974 Claire Manning Shoshone-Paiute1973 Maxine Norris Tohono O'odham1972 Louise Edmo Shoshone-Bannock1971 Nora Begay Navajo1970 Virginia Stroud Keetoowah Cherokee-Mvskoke 1969 Margery Haury Cheyenne-Arapahoe-Navajo-Sioux1968 Thomasine Hill Crow-Pawnee1967 Sarah Johnson Navajo1966 Wahleah Lujan Taos Pueblo1965 Marcelle Ahtone Kiowa1964 Michele Portwood Arapaho1963 Williamette Youpee Sisseton-Yankton Dakota1962 Ramona Soto Klamath1961 Brenda Bearchum Northern Cheyenne1960 Vivian Arviso Navajo1959 Delores Racine Blackfeet1958 Not held 1957 Ruth Larson Gros Ventre1956 Sandra Gover Skidi Pawnee1955 Rita Ann McLaughlin Hunkpapa Lakota1954 Mary Louise Defender Yanktonai Dakota1953 Arlene Wesley Yakama Nation
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