Feb 13, 1987 - Miss New Mexico contestant in the Miss USA pageant calls her outfit a "Kachina" but says she didn't mean it, because she didn't know what it means.
Hopi leaders probe use of kachina
Albuquerque, NM – Hopi religious leaders are concerned that a “kachina” costume worn by Miss New Mexico USA is sacrilegious, a tribal spokeswoman says.
Kriston Killgore won the Miss USA Best State Costume Award Saturday for her feather-bedecked outfit.
“Hopi Chairman Ivan Sidney is discussing it with religious leaders right now,” said spokeswoman Bertha Torres. “He has not seen the costume… but he would like to meet with Miss New Mexico. He does not believe that the intent was there to desecrate tribal religious beliefs.”
The tribe’s reservation is in Arizona.
Torres said that while the Hopi Tribe does want to embarrass Killgore or the pageant, members are worried about the contestant wearing the costume of one of their gods.
A kachina is any of various ancestral spirits defied by the Hopis and impersonated In religious rituals by masked dancers.
Killgore’s mother, Judith Killgore, said any intent to represent Indian culture in the costume she designed was meant as a compliment.
Judith Killgore said she did not intend to call the outfit a kachina. The label was conceived for lack of better title, after her daughter won the Miss New Mexico USA pageant.
“Helen Kowall, Miss New Mexico pageant director, didn’t know what to call it,” Judith Killgore said. “She said it was an Indian-Mexican dancer, but they told her, “Well, we have one that’s an Indian dancer.”
She said all the costumes must have different titles.
“I’m sorry it was called a kachina doll. That was just a title. It didn’t look like a kachina doll. I wanted everyone to be happy that New Mexico won. I thought they’d be happy that I put in their culture.”
Torres said Sidney wanted to make contestants and officials aware that the kachina is a religious symbol.
“He is concerned, but he doesn’t think it was intentional,” she said. “I’d bet anything that she doesn’t know what it means. I’m sure it was a honest mistake.”
1987 Feb 13, Florida Today |
1987 Feb 13, Florida Today |
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