From left: Victoria Santio (Miss Vision Quest 2016), Precious Christy (Little Miss Vision Quest 2017), Cylynce Hicks, Darci Owens (Miss Vision Quest 2017), Kaden Crutcher (Vision Quest Warrior 2017) and Gerik Wassmuth (Vision Quest Brave 2016 and 2017).
The second annual Vision Quest Pageant featuring the Vision Quest Princess and Warrior competition took place Saturday, crowning young participants colorfully adorned from the Fallon Shoshone-Paiute Tribe and beyond.
Guest performer Sage Romero (Big Pine Paiute/Taos Pueblo) from Big Pine, Calif., and emcee Jay Painter (Pauite/Oneida/Miwok/Washoe) from Bridgeport, Calif., along with Miss Vision Quest 2016, Victoria Santo (Northern Ute), presided over the event. Host Drum Young Chief accompanied the festivities including a raffle and meal after the ceremony. Also Reverend Ernest Hooper gave two prayers and youth Canberra Redner sang the flag song. Judges were Anita Talacon and Francine Tohannie.
Shannon Hooper, Churchill County School District Indian Education liaison, said the Vision Quest program meets two times a month and involves the local tribe including different elders and leaders. She said its purpose is to educate the public and also have a good time, adding a thank-you to contributing families and local businesses as well as emphasizing she’s impressed by the many Native American students’ contributions in the classroom and on the field.
Contestants shared about a talent they possess, practiced public speaking and talked about their elaborate costumes and props volunteers helped them make.