NORMAN – Former Junior Miss Muscogee (Creek) Nation (2023-2024), Georgia Harjo (Mvskoke) won Miss Indian OU 2026-2027. The public and non-profit administration major ran on a platform of “Honoring Our Ancestors.” Harjo’s experience running for this year’s pageant was long, but she was dedicated. She explained that this pageant was a little different from previous competitions.
“I didn’t know that, the fact that we meet every single week. So starting February, when the applications closed up until the week before pageant night. Every single Wednesday, we would meet as a group, and it really helped us bond and get to know one another and just practice how we do our performance on stage,” Harjo said.
One of Harjo’s favorite parts of this pageant was encountering the diverse perspectives of her fellow contestants. Contestants were not just from Oklahoma, but also from far-flung parts of the state that she hadn’t been exposed to. Harjo enjoyed learning more about how they do things in their home.
Harjo met contestants Lila Reynolds (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) and Emily Ward (Wyandotte/Seneca/Delaware), and saw fellow Mvskoke contestant Amari Turner.
“It was really interesting getting to hear how they do things in their community and what differences there are. It was nice because with our weekly practices, it even got to a point where we could discuss and talk about our differences and similarities between our Nations and how we do things,“ Harjo said.
Harjo explained that not only is she an enrolled Mvskoke citizen, but also a Choctaw, Seminole, and Cheyenne descendant.
“Because I’m also Choctaw, and so it was really nice getting to talk to Mississippi Choctaw contestant and learn more about how they did it back in those homelands too,” Harjo said.
Preparation and support
Harjo has been raised to always be as prepared as possible, so before even practicing, she knew what she would do. Prepared, Harjo sought to represent her culture and history as fully as possible.
“I really wanted to do a display of our Mvskoke culture and history. My presentation was specifically about our people’s experience on the Trail of Tears. So I created a painting and performed a song on the flute, and I also wanted to tie in the intertribal identity with Choctaw Nation,” Harjo said. “It was a lot of interesting practicing things I already know and things I don’t know, such as playing the flute.”
What inspired Harjo to run for this role? The current OU freshman had known about the title and had a few people on campus, alongside her family, encouraging her to run.
“I wish to represent the University of Oklahoma and our Indigenous students so that I may serve as past titleholders have, to continue this legacy and help inspire others in their educational journey, and showcase the community within the University of Oklahoma. I wish to honor our ancestors and encourage others to learn and teach our cultural ways. I’m humbled and grateful for this opportunity.”
“It was really nice hearing support. I’ve done titles before, but I had only briefly considered doing this college title due to wanting to focus on my studies. But many of them said that I would bring a really good perspective and bring honor to representing all my different cultures,” Harjo said.
Harjo looks back at the moment she won the crown with amusement at her own reaction, which is caught on video.
“I just covered my face with my hands, and I looked down, and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, they called my name, that’s me!’ Then just the happiness and pride that comes with that cause I get to serve now in this role and do everything I wanted to do. I get to make my plans happen, and it just made me so happy,” Harjo said.
As she held the title and wore the crown, Harjo felt good because she believed the judges and the community saw her put forth her best effort in this pageant.
“I feel like I was trusted kind of like with this torch to carry on from all the past representatives into the future, and hopefully I’ll inspire this next group of girls, whoever will run this next year, to do the exact same thing and represent their people to the best of their ability,” Harjo said.
Service and inspiration
After being a former Jr. Miss MCN and Miss Indian of Oklahoma, this title makes her want to do better for Native students and her tribe.
“I want better for this group, for this organization, so I always see a space, and I want to do my best to fill it properly and bring respect, recognition, and honor to our Mvskoke people, but all the tribes that I come from and even all the tribes in Oklahoma as well,” Harjo said.
From her previous pageant experiences, Harjo had served as a community representative, going out to do work, meeting the elders and the youth, educating about her tribe, sharing her culture’s art, sharing the language, and being a good role model.
“I have been questioned before, ‘Why was I running for this title?’ I’ve already done so many other ones that seem like they’re bigger, but going to what I said in the beginning. I see a need in my community, and I see a care, something I want to do for my people,” Harjo said.
In her new role as Miss Indian OU, she wants to be a source of inspiration for others to pursue higher education, and she would like to continue doing so. Harjo wants to let others know that the OU has an amazing Native American student program.
“You have space to come practice your culture, we have so many cool things, whether it’s the Art Club here, the language groups, language classes, we have stickball on the South Oval very often. It’s really a great space to foster Native Pride, I think,” Harjo said.
The title also comes with a scholarship, which will be helpful. Harjo had no idea of which college she wanted to attend when she was younger and had heard of the Miss Indian OU title.
“I remember seeing that title, and I was shocked because I was like, ‘That stuff still continues in college?’ I didn’t know that. But even though I didn’t know where I wanted to go yet, she (Miss Indian OU) inspired me to also run. I want to do that for others, I want to make the title known and let kids in High School know, ‘Yeah, we have space here at OU for Native students.’ Come and check it out, it’s really amazing,” Harjo said.
Harjo feels happy to represent this title, not just for herself, but for her tribe at OU. She knows that there were so many Miss Indian OUs and began researching when the last time a Mvskoke citizen was represented with this title was.
“It’s always that question of ‘Did they represent it or did they come from multiple identities?’ That’s always hard, and I’m having an interesting time navigating that as well, but it’s been a while since the very last representative that was out there speaking the Mvskoke language and wearing the Mvskoke regalia,” Harjo said.
“So being able to be the first one in a long time has shown me a responsibility to share an accurate portrayal of our people, who we were in the past, and who we are today, and who we can grow to be in the future. I feel like I really was able to do that through my talent presentation, talking about our history, and also through my regalia. I always make all of my own dresses, and my mother makes my jewelry. I make my moccasins,” Harjo said.
Harjo views this title as a huge responsibility to her tribe; she believes MCN doesn’t always receive representation every year. “But I’m very happy to contribute to the awareness of who we are this year. It’s been a really great year for our tribe, with so many girls stepping up and running in these different titles in the community,” Harjo said.
“Even the new Miss and Junior Miss Indian Oklahoma, they are both Mvskoke. So just being able to be part of the legacy and representing our women and our people, it really makes me proud.”
Honoring Our Ancestors
One component of this title is that Miss Indian OU hosts platform events. Harjo explained that part of the competition is a platform, something you believe in and want to promote. Each semester, this title has to plan an event, on or off campus, to raise students’ awareness of that platform.
“My platform is ‘Honoring Our Ancestors’ and kind of what I want to do with that is acknowledging all of our different tribal groups here at OU and having cultural exchange in a way, making it so that no one is scared to ask questions, whether you’re from here or you’re not from here,” Harjo said.
Being crowned Miss Indian OU has been an interesting experience. Harjo has had to juggle her freshman year and the American Indian Student Association, which hosts the pageant. “I did face many different obstacles, which I’m glad I made it to the finish line now, and I was able to do it. I can’t wait to see what we do next year,” Harjo said.
Harjo acknowledges that college is a difficult place to navigate, and she wants to create a space where they can all get together and share about who they are.
“Whether it’s asking about how to enter a powwow, stompdance, or how to create a ribbon skirt or make a stickball, anything like that. That’s what I wish to do this semester,” Harjo said.
Take the step and try
One piece of advice that Harjo would like to give: no one is perfect, and everyone is learning. If you’re nervous or afraid, take that step and try. Harjo mentioned that there are so many different perspectives and ways of doing things, but just do your best and ask questions. She says she wasn’t as knowledgeable about the language or culture as she is today.
“But through studying and asking questions, putting aside my fears, I was able to grow into the young woman that I am. Now, a lot of times I know youth are scared to ask questions, and it’s hard to get past that step. I would just say, just try and just be respectful while you do it,” Harjo shared.
“As long as you have an honest want for that knowledge, there’s nothing that can harm you. There’s nothing that can hurt you. Everything, whether it’s pageants or it’s life, it’s all about growth, and I think a lot of us forget that we’re all constantly growing.”
