Indigenous Beauty | Indigenous Pageantry

REGISTER

Indigenous Beauty is a new program series presented by the Vancouver Art Gallery to amplify and centre Indigenous voices, providing a platform for Indigenous peoples to define themselves.

To kick off the series, on world-wide Rock Your Mocs day, host Shadae Rose Johnson, Community Relations Coordinator of Indigenous Programs, will be joined by the current and former Miss Indian World, Cheyenne Kippenberger and Violet Duncan, to discuss Indigenous definitions of beauty and the significance of Indigenous pageantry.

Beauty pageants are held in Indigenous communities across the country and around the world. Each community has its own set of criteria, but none of them are just about physical appearance. These events bring communities together and encourage the exchange of ideas, traditions and good-will. They can create opportunities for Indigenous youth and help them in their personal, spiritual and professional growth by providing sustained support networks and encouraging leadership.

This talk will be presented on Zoom and streamed live to the Gallery’s Facebook account here »

Questions? Submit them during the Zoom presentation using the Q&A function. You can also engage with your fellow attendees and panelists during the event using the Chat function.

New to Zoom? Learn how to register and attend a webinar here »

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Violet Duncan is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation. In 2006, she was crowned Miss Indian World, and she has since toured nationally and internationally as an author, educator, dancer and storyteller. As a mother of four, Duncan recognized the need for Indigenous representation in children’s literature. She has written three award-winning children’s books: When We Dance (2013); Let’s Hoop Dance! (2015); and I am Native (2020). Duncan recently joined the family of Random House and has two new children’s books coming out in 2022. She also facilitates workshops to promote spiritual wellness and cultural education across the United States, Canada and Europe. Duncan is currently the Indigenous Cultural Advisor at the Tempe Center for the Arts, where she aims to create space for a permanent program of Indigenous performance and practice.

Cheyenne Kippenberger is a Seminole and Chilean woman, former Miss Florida Seminole and the first Seminole woman to hold the prestigious title of Miss Indian World. She is passionate about sustaining Indigenous culture and healing her community. During her reign, she utilized her platform as an ambassador to overturn adverse stereotypes and stigmatizations of mental health in tribal communities and encourage healing through identity and self-love. She has proudly worked with many organizations and presented on topics including culture as prevention, empowerment, Native youth outreach, identity, human trafficking and domestic. Kippenberger is the founder and Co-Chairwoman of the Healing The Circle In Our Tribal Communities Symposium, a healing symposium focused on traumas affecting Indigenous communities. Kippenberger strives for authenticity and to live a healthy life physically, mentally and spiritually through her culture and teachings.