Josh Friesen/Idaho State Journal
Miss Shoshone-Bannock Taylor Haskett speaks April 6 at the Tribal Business Center in Fort Hall.
By Josh Friesen, jfriesen@journalnet.com
FORT HALL — Taylor Haskett was a shy girl in high school.
Now, she’ll be competing for one of the most distinguished titles a young Native American woman can attain.
Haskett — who currently works at Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High School as a paraprofessional — is headed to the 2017 Miss Indian World competition April 25-29 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event is part of the annual Gathering of Nations, which is the largest Native American powwow in the world.
Haskett — who was recently crowned Miss Shoshone-Bannock and will be representing the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes at Miss Indian World — graduated from American Falls High School in 2014. Her time in high school helped her overcome her shyness when she held various leadership positions with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That experience got her comfortable talking in front of people.
Haskett was also involved with the National FFA Organization in high school. That was when her public speaking skills really took off.
“My advisor, … he just put me out there in speaking competitions because he saw something in me,” Haskett said. “Apparently I could (talk) because in competition I went to nationals and got to the semifinals. That really helped with my speaking.”
Haskett went on to compete in the Power County Young Woman of Excellence program.
“That was my first real pageant I went into,” Haskett said.
Her second competition was Miss Northwest Indian Youth Conference, which she won. After graduating from American Falls High School, Haskett enrolled at Idaho State University to major in anthropology and political science.
While studying at ISU, Haskett decided to run for Miss ISU. Though she didn’t win, the lessons she learned were invaluable.
“I was really upset, but I was like, ‘You know what? People fail sometimes. I’m that failure right now, and it’s OK because there’s something better in store for me,’” Haskett said.
Now, Haskett is preparing for Miss Indian World, a program that Miss Shoshone-Bannock is modeled after.
“That’s really helped me prepare even though I didn’t know I was going to run for Miss Indian World,” she said. “The community, they just all saw something in me.”
Haskett is currently selling raffle tickets, and needs to sell 500 to be allowed to compete in Miss Indian World. Those interested in purchasing raffle tickets can contact Haskett through her Facebook page: Miss Shoshone-Bannock LIII Taylor Haskett.
The first night of the Miss Indian World program, Haskett says, will be a dinner/orientation. Haskett will participate in the interview on the second day. On day three, Haskett will perform her talent, which will be traditional storytelling of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ creation story. On day four, Haskett will participate in the dance competition, where she says she will be dancing traditional buckskin dress. Crowning is on the fifth day.
Coming out on top on that fifth and final day would be something special for Haskett.
“It would mean the world to me,” she said. “I think I take it more personally because my mom won Miss Indian America, so if I could win Miss Indian World, that would be amazing.”