Moore & Two Eagles reflect on Miss Indian Northwest Pageant experience
Tribal members Miss Shoshone-Bannock Myke Moore (left) and Mauricea Two Eagles.
By YVONNE WARJACK
Sho-Ban News
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes were represented at the 2026 Miss Indian Northwest Pageant as contestants Myke Moore and Mauricea Two Eagle joined Indigenous young women from across the Pacific Northwest in a week celebrating leadership, cultural knowledge, public speaking and service to Native communities.
Established in 1969, the Miss Indian Northwest Pageant brings together Native women ages 18–29 from federally and state-recognized tribes throughout the Northwest. Contestants participate in interviews, cultural presentations, traditional regalia, leadership activities, and community events while sharing the histories, traditions, and values of their tribal nations.
Royalty and contestants at the Miss Indian Northwest Pageant in Portland, Ore.
Throughout the week, contestants took part in workshops, cultural exchanges, public appearances, and judged competitions designed to strengthen leadership skills and encourage cultural preservation. Two Eagle said she was inspired to compete as an opportunity for personal growth while serving Indigenous communities and strengthening her understanding of her language, culture, history, and family heritage. She also said representing the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes allowed her to honor her family and the legacy of her late father, Robert “Rob” Two Eagle, who sang with Spring Creek. “My greatest influences and mentors in my journey are my mother and my late father. They are my foundation and have shaped who I am today. Through them, I was introduced to powwow, ceremonies, my culture, and sports, which helped me grow in confidence and purpose,” Two Eagle said.
Moore also represented the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes throughout the week, participating in leadership activities, interviews, cultural presentations, and public events. At the conclusion of the pageant, Moore was named first attendant. “Representing the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes at Miss Indian Northwest was an incredible honor. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my culture, meet inspiring Indigenous women from across the Northwest, and continue learning through this experience,” Moore said. Two Eagle said she is grateful for the opportunity to represent the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and to build friendships with contestants from across the Northwest.
“This opportunity means so much to me because it has allowed me to grow, learn, and strengthen my connection to my culture and identity,” Two Eagle said. “I also want to encourage everyone to never give up on your dreams. When it rains, it pours—but once the storm is over, the sun will shine again.”
Moore and Two Eagles with contestants for Miss Indian Northwest.
The 2026 Miss Indian Northwest Pageant concluded with contestants returning to their communities carrying forward new leadership experiences, cultural knowledge, and relationships developed throughout the week.
