2009 PowWows.com Princess Nomination - walelaGA

[Paul G]

walelaGA is running for PowWows.com Princess.

Please post any questions or comments you have for her in this thread.

Voting for the Princess Contest will begin January 1, 2009.

To read more about the contest, please visit:
http://www.powwows.com/gathering/pow...minations.html

[Paul G]

Thanks for entering our princess contest! We are excited to have another batch of great entries this year.

You've been a member of the site for quite some time, but only have a few posts. One of the responsibilities for the princess it to welcome new members and help them find their way on the site. With you having less than 20 posts will you be able to fulfill this duty?

In a typical year, what pow wows to you attend?

[walelaGA]

I can absolutely fulfill this duty. I have been a member for quite some time and have learned to navigate the site pretty well. Yes I only have a few posts but I read the threads daily and I usually post on topics I feel passionate about. I have also posted videos in the Pow Wow TV area. I usually get to most of the powwows in the Southeastern part of the U.S. I try and make it to all the ones here in Cherokee, N.C. I also attend Gathering of Nations each year and I hope to make it to Red Earth and Schemitzun next year.

Thanks for entering our princess contest! We are excited to have another batch of great entries this year.

You've been a member of the site for quite some time, but only have a few posts. One of the responsibilities for the princess it to welcome new members and help them find their way on the site. With you having less than 20 posts will you be able to fulfill this duty?

In a typical year, what pow wows to you attend?

[clk]

congrats to you walelaGA for getting yourself in the contest for PowWows.com Princess

I would like to ask you a question:
Who would consider your greatest mentor(s) and how did they help you in deciding to run for this honor?

[walelaGA]

I think that my greatest mentors would have to be my family and the people that I work for and with. My dad is a total inspiration to me. He has worked so hard in his life to achieve what he has. That is a quality I admire and that I work for. I think it is a quality that makes up a good representative. I am also inspired by the people I for. I work in substance abuse treatment and these people teach me so much about life and that makes me eternally grateful to them. The people I work with are constant reminders of our culture and traditions and they teach me to remember that each day. These are people that helped me decide to run for this honor and I hope I make them proud.

congrats to you walelaGA for getting yourself in the contest for PowWows.com Princess

I would like to ask you a question:
Who would consider your greatest mentor(s) and how did they help you in deciding to run for this honor?

[wyo_rose]

Can you please post a pic in your outfit?

[nascarboys3]

So how are you going to promote your Cherokee heritage when you are out on the PowWow Trail? I am also Eastern Band Cherokee but I live in WA state and no one around here is from our nation. When I tell people I am Cherokee, I get "the look" and it gets frustrating because no one really knows much about us. So that is my challenge to you if become Princess is to spread the word that not all Cherokees are "white wanna-be's"!

[1KIOWA]

Congratulations on your princess nomination. What are your plans with regards to education?

[walelaGA]

Can you please post a pic in your outfit?

I don't have all my beadwork finished yet but I will post some pics of the parts that are finished soon.

[walelaGA]

So how are you going to promote your Cherokee heritage when you are out on the PowWow Trail? I am also Eastern Band Cherokee but I live in WA state and no one around here is from our nation. When I tell people I am Cherokee, I get "the look" and it gets frustrating because no one really knows much about us. So that is my challenge to you if become Princess is to spread the word that not all Cherokees are "white wanna-be's"!

This is a topic that has been much discussed on the threads here at powwows.com. I am very aware of the stigma that just the Cherokee name carries. My hope is that if I were to be elected I would be able to promote the Eastern Cherokee people and shed light on our traditions and who we are. I think that it is important that education starts at home. So knowing who you are and where you come from is a good jumping off point. And I hope that I can be a good role model as to the diversity of our Indian people.

[walelaGA]

Congratulations on your princess nomination. What are your plans with regards to education?

I am currently working for the Eastern Band Cherokee Nation as an intern doing Substance Abuse Therapy. Part of what we do at our facility is use traditions to heal. I hope that I will be able to continue to do this kind of treatment for a long while. I would also like to travel to other Nations and get more involved in their traditions as treatment.

[walelaGA]

Can you please post a pic in your outfit?

This is some of the beadwork but the rest isn't finished. Thanks to Barclay and Awanii!

[walela49]

HI walelaGA and congrats on running for princess

I personally need to post a clarification that walelaGA and walela49 are not the same person! lol

I've had a couple of customers congratulate me on running for princess....so just to clarify: walela49 is an ol' married woman with 2 kids and I'm NOT running for princess! lol

walelaGA is a sweet-young-thang, unmarried, no kids and walalaGA IS the one running for princess.

silly wabbit ;)

[wyo_rose]

I don't have all my beadwork finished yet but I will post some pics of the parts that are finished soon.

I'd rather see a pic of you dancing, if you don't mind.

[walelaGA]

I'd rather see a pic of you dancing, if you don't mind.

I don't have too many yet so here are a couple. I am in the yellow.