Miss Shoshone-Bannock Kaycee Dixey prepares to run for Miss Indian World
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Kaycee Dixey
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Miss Shoshone-Bannock, Kaycee Dixey, is excited to fulfill one of her royalty requirements by vying for the Miss Indian World title.
Before she ran for Miss Shoshone-Bannock, she made it a personal goal to graduate from college and obtain a Bachelor's Degree. She graduated from Idaho State University in December of 2020.
While attending college, she tutored at seven different high schools and learned some of the struggles and barriers kids face today in school. It gave her the idea for her platform as Miss Shoshone-Bannock, which is “Educating Tribal Youth.” She focuses on encouraging high school students to further their educational career and pursue a college degree.
In the past eight months, as Miss Shoshone-Bannock, her focus has been attending local powwows, community events and working with several schools to put educational workshops on for high school and grade school students.
She currently works a full-time job as the Banquet Manager at the Hotel. As Banquets, they handle all events in the Chiefs Event Center and set-up for all concerts on the Casino Hotel property.
When she gets free time she travels to powwows and other events.
“I do my absolute best as Miss Shoshone-Bannock because I remember being a little girl and being very excited to see Miss Shoshone-Bannock in the same room as me,” she said.
Her first event as Miss Sho-Ban was in August, she attended the Shoshone-Bannock Homeland event in Yellowstone National Park where tribal members and department shared history, sang and danced at the Old Faithful Geyser.
Her second event was later that month at the first annual Idaho Heritage in Caldwell. Destiney Tinno and her set up a booth where they shared the history of the Tribe. She also did the welcoming. Many business and educational leaders attended this event.
In September, she participated in the Eastern Idaho State Fair (EISF) Parade and attended the National Championship Indian Relay Races at the EISF.
On the weekend of September 16 she traveled to San Bernardino, Cali. for the San Manuel Pow-wow. This was her first time in California and it was an honor to say she was representing the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. She met two former Miss Indian Worlds at the powwow.
On September 30, she attended and spoke at the Chief Taghee School powwow for Indian Day. All the kids loved to see her there. That night, she ran the Indian Day Pageant at the Indian Day Powwow.
“Running a royalty pageant definitely is a lot of work, but worth every second. I had fun and it was great practice for public speaking,” she said.
On October 5, she had the honor to be a part of the Hispanic Youth Leadership Summit at Idaho State University where she was the emcee.
On October 15 she attended tribal member Mahalia Tindore's senior project beading class at Bannock Creek Community Center where they made beaded pop sockets or earrings. Beading supplies were donated by Indigenous Supplies.
On October 19 she had the opportunity to answer questions and share some history with Summit Elementary School fourth grade class in Jerome via Zoom. The students asked many questions. On October 20, she had the opportunity to speak at the Victim Assistance Program (VAP) Domestic Violence event.
During Halloween she sponsored Eagle Lodge, Buffalo Lodge and Ross Fork Lodges Masquerade Royalty Pageants. She provided gift bags to the Masquerade Royalty and gave them monetary gifts provided by her and her family.
On November 11, she attended the Osborne Family Veterans Breakfast. She was asked to do the welcoming.
Jessica Rodriguez and her also planned the 2022 Veterans Day Powwow at the Chiefs Event Center. It took a lot of time and dedication to put on a powwow that big but she’s proud to say it was a very successful powwow.
As Miss Shoshone-Bannock, her grandparents, Louise and Clyde Dixey Sr., made gift bags for 100 Veterans for the Veterans Powwow. Her grandfather hand mixed cedar and white sage bags for each veteran.
On November 16, she had the pleasure of speaking to a fourth and fifth grade class at Madison Middle School in Rexburg.
On November 17, she attended and emceed for the Good Entrepreneurship Conference Fashion Show that was held at the Chiefs Event Center.
On December 15, she and her family made 400 goodie bags for all the elders in the community. She personally handed them out at the Elderly Nutrition Program.
During New Year's Eve, she danced in the New Year at the Annual Warbonnet Dance Powwow. On January 14, she attended the Dixey Family Round Dance.
On January 21 she attended the Buckskin Glove making class hosted by the Language and Culture Preservation Department at the Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School.
On January 24 she attended the 2023 Legislation Reception in Boise with Fort Hall Business Council and a couple tribal departments.
On January 29 she participated in the American Falls High School Powwow.
On February 11 her family and her hosted the first ever Powwow Clinic at Eagle Lodge in Gibson. She had Mary Benally, Devin Nagitsy and Nakazeeka Jack help put on the powwow clinic where they taught kids and adults how to powwow dance. She plans to have more of these classes before her reign is over and hopes the next Miss Shoshone-Bannock continues the classes.
On March 2 she read to the first, second, third and fourth grade classes at Chief Taghee Elementary School for National Read Across America Day.
On March 8 she attended the Big Sky Championship Women's Basketball Game where Shoshone-Bannock tribal singers and dancers performed at the halftime shows.
On March 14 she spoke to a doctorate level Philosophy class at Idaho State University. The students asked questions about barriers Indigenous peoples face when it comes to the Academia world.
On March 18 she emceed for the Tribal Women's Appreciation Event at the Chiefs Event Center. On March 22 she gave opening remarks at the 20th Annual Grief Conference at the Chiefs Event Center.
On March 23 she attended the 2023 Early Childhood Program Gymnasium Groundbreaking Ceremony with our Fort Hall Business Council.
On March 28 she had the opportunity to share some tribal history with a group of Brazilian tourists who visited the Fort Hall Reservation.
On March 31, and April 1 she traveled to Montana State University Powwow and had so much fun dancing!
As of March 30 she officially sold all her Miss Indian World (MIW) Raffle Tickets that were required of me as a contestant.
“I am so very excited for the Miss Indian World Pageant and will do my absolute best!” said Dixey.
Her Traditional Talent in the MIW pageant will be singing Circle Dance Songs that she and her grandfather composed.
She will continue to stick to her platform as Miss Indian World.
“I am very passionate about education and truly believe that tribal youth should have a positive role model who encourages and shares the importance of secondary education,” she said.
A lesson she will take from serving as Miss Shoshone-Bannock and apply to her journey in competing for MIW is no matter what, give it your all and do your absolute best.
“Unfortunately, I have had negative things said to me but no matter what anyone says or thinks of me, I do my best and that is all we can do. I continue to be a positive person and have a big heart. Keep your head up and keep going.”
Kaycee’s future goal is to continue her education and go to Law School. She would like to study Commercial Law or Natural Water Laws. She hopes to one day be a lawyer.
The title of Miss Indian World means she would be representing her tribal people on a national platform.
“It would be a step closer to the personal goals I have set for myself. I would meet new people and learn new things on this journey that I would absolutely share with others. I love my tribal people and have always participated in cultural events and ceremonies and representing them in this way would be such an honor,” she said.
