Land-based education a passion for Miss Indigenous Canada contestant
By Kelly Anne Smith
GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION- Anjolene Pine is competing in the inaugural Miss Indigenous Canada pageant. Anjolene is a Registered Behavioural Technician in Garden River First Nation, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology last year.
“I would be honoured if I was able to hold the title of Miss Indigenous Canada, but even just being involved in the pageant has opened so many doors and so many connections to just being able to meet people, do different things, talk about and experience different things that are near and dear to my heart.”
Anjolene is from both Curve Lake and Garden River First Nations. She says the eight-hour drive between them is nothing.
“My Dad is from Garden River and my Mom and I are from Curve Lake. I grew up in both communities and I have been dancing and involved in pow wows since I could walk. I have been the head dancer in one way or another at my home community Curve Lake’s pow wow either through being the junior head dancer, the Two-Spirit head dancer or the adult female head dancer since I’ve been 12 years old.”
Anjolene dances Fancy Shawl.
“I also dance Old Style Fancy, Jiggle Dress, and most recently, Traditional. The difference is in the foot work and what you wear and the teachings that go behind it,” she says.
Anjolene has always lived on-reserve and credits her father with her being involved with the land.
“He’s the lands-based teacher at the Garden River School. I’ve been doing different things with him since I was 10. I have helped him teach different students and schools how to clean fish, check the nets – whether it was under the ice or on open water – cook the fish, do different things like skinning and hunting, setting traps and snares.”
Anjolene talked of living in nature with bears coming up to her front windows.
“I’m very much involved in the land. My Dad, he made sure that I was able to find my way. He said, ‘You could never get lost in the bush because that’s your home’. He was very adamant on teaching me from a young age to be able to be self-sufficient. Both of my parents were. Whether it was in the bush or in town, be able to find my way and make sure I was competent and comfortable in myself.”
For the pageant, Anjolene will focus on land-based education for her Traditional Presentation, connecting her background working in mental health.
“…Land-based education has [a positive impact] on mental health and on Indigenous Youth,” Anjolene explains. “My biggest driving force is becoming someone I needed when I was younger in terms of having someone to talk to in the mental health field that was Indigenous. And then, being someone who is being supportive and be a good role model for my cousins and past tiny, little Ange who needed somebody to look up to.”
Anjolene is a creates through sewing, beading, and quill work.
“I was probably five when I first learned to sew and use the sewing machine. Beading came a little bit afterwards. My grandmother and my aunties on my mom’s side were very involved in helping raise me and teach me different things. My grandmother is Susie Taylor. She’s one of the most well-respected Elders in Curve Lake. She and my aunties taught me how to bead, how to sew, different things in the culture, and the language, but my Gran taught me to sew.”
Sewing has become a way for Anjolene to express herself.
“I have made 15 different outfits from Fancy Shawl to Jingle Dress to Ribbon Skirts. I’ve made numerous Ribbon Skirts and Traditional outfits for my women’s Traditional. I’ve made outfits for my cousins that were Fancy Shawl…I just recently made 10 ribbon shirts for my previous employer Waabinong Head Start Family Resource Centre for their Little Naming Ceremony that they had with the children.”
The crowning of Miss Indigenous Canada will be held July 27 at the Gathering Place by the Grand in Ohsweken, Ontario. Aleria McKay, who is Onondaga and Teme Augama Anishnabai and the Committee Head of Miss Indigenous Canada, says there were up to 700 initial applications.
“The committee is very excited that we are now just over a month away from our inaugural competition. We’re working to ensure that it is an enriching, memorable experience for all our contestants, and that each of them takes something valuable away from their time participating, whether or not they walk away with the crown. We have an exciting few days planned for them, filled with workshops, guest speakers, and activities, all based on Six Nations. The committee is looking forward to welcoming them to the community and finally getting to meet the women who will compete for the title of Miss Indigenous Canada!”