When Tyera Pete packs for the Miss Indian World pageant in New Mexico later this month, she won’t worry about bringing a bikini or an evening gown. Instead, her luggage will contain such items as a buckskin dress, regalia and a saddle.

Cultural knowledge trumps evening wear and spray tans during the three-day competition starting April 23 in Albuquerque. Pete, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and a 2008 Happy Canyon Princess, must demonstrate cultural knowledge, dancing ability and public speaking.

Pete has dreamed of competing in the Miss Indian World pageant since she was a young girl.

“It was something I always wanted to do, but I’ve been too scared,” she said. “I decided this was the year.”

The competition is open to unmarried women between 18 and 25 years old who can prove understanding of tribal traditions. Each prospective candidate writes a personal essay and provides two letters of recommendation and proof of tribal affiliation. This year’s list of 22 contestants includes seven from Canada and 15 from the United States.

“The Miss Indian World Pageant is a cultural pageant, not a beauty pageant. There is not a swimsuit or an evening gown competition,” said program coordinator Melonie Mathews. “The contestants spend most of their pageant time in their traditional native clothing, demonstrating pride and diversity among the native/indigenous people of North America, and sometimes, South/Central America.”

The pageant is part of the world’s largest powwow, the Gathering of Nations. The 32-year-old gathering of indigenous people brings about 112,000 visitors to Albuquerque each year.

Pete, 24, brings plenty of dance experience to the competition. Most every weekend, she points her Mercury Sable in the direction of a powwow and drives. Often, she goes alone to revel in the dancing and camaraderie.

“My mom started taking me to powwows before I could walk,” Pete said.

She stopped for a while in her teens to try rodeo (roping) instead, but returned to powwow dancing at age 18. She favors a women’s traditional Plateau high-step, a style that requires fast footwork.

The Miss Indian World competition will end with dancing. The talent portion, which comes earlier, requires each competitor to perform a culturally related skill. Past contestants have done such things as prepare tribal foods, show beadwork, tell tribal stories, sing and dance.

“I will be explaining our traditional Plateau horse regalia, where it comes from, how we got it, how it’s different from other tribes, and showing the different pieces that go on the horse,” Pete said. “I’ll be taking my Indian saddle and complete horse regalia to the pageant with me.”

Instead of an actual horse, Pete will use a saddle stand set at center stage.

During the public speaking portion of the pageant, she will don a black wool shell dress with blue, red, orange, yellow and white “fire ribbons.” She will answer a question earlier that day testing knowledge of her tribal culture.

Pete practices speaking at powwows after having the emcee announce that she is selling raffle tickets for the Miss Indian World pageant. People generally crowd around the dancer asking questions and give her a chance to rehearse her speaking skills.

“Public speaking isn’t really my forté,” said the former Happy Canyon princess. “However, I’d definitely credit the Happy Canyon Association for helping me get over my fear.”

The woman crowned Miss Indian World will spend the next year as an ambassador making appearances at powwows, festivals and other events. Last year’s victor, Taylor Thomas, rode in the 2014 Westward Ho! Parade in Pendleton.

“Miss Indian World spends her year as an ambassador to all native and non-native people sharing her culture and speaking on issues that affect Native America, and promoting education, cultural preservation and demonstrating a strong sense of individuality in being a young native woman living in a multicultural world and maintaining her traditional beliefs and practices,” Mathews said.

Pete is selling raffle tickets for $2.50 each. Proceeds go to the Miss Indian World pageant committee and Pete will receive 10 percent of overall ticket sales as an honorarium. Prizes include turquoise jewelry, a buckskin hide, a beaded purse and other items. For tickets, call Pete at 541-215-2901 or Celeste Reves at 541-969-2109.

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Contact Kathy Aney at kaney@eastoregonian.com or call 541-966-0810.