Quest for the Miss Quechan crown Thursday

The Quechan Tribe crowns a new Miss Quechan this week and the tribe's neighbors are invited to celebrate with several days of music, dance contests, games and traditional foods.

The Thursday pageant kicks off the celebration of the annual Quechan Indians Days.

Tribal leaders explain that the selection of a young lady to serve as Miss Quechan marks a cherished tradition for the Quechan Tribe.

“Miss Quechan is the essence of the virgin of the community, a young lady who should be most appropriate to represent our tribe and our culture,” said Priscilla Prettybird, a tribal elder and an event organizer. “We ask that she be respectful of everyone and appropriate and proper at all times. She has a very esteemed position in our tribe.”

The pageant is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Paradise Event Center, located adjacent to Paradise Casino. The event is free and open to the general public.

Contestants for the crown are Gina Rivera and Catherine Kelly.

“This year we have only a couple girls, but they are very good and both are very appropriate,” Prettybird said. “We'll see which one wins.”

The remaining events for Quechan Indian Days will run Friday and Saturday, with most events taking place at Evergreen Park. To get there, head north across the Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge and take an immediate left.

Event organizers say it's important to the tribe to welcome its neighbors to all activities.

“I have always felt that when you are on native country, you're family,” said Tarryn Villicana, an event organizer and past Miss Quechan. “We take you in and we take care of you. When you are here you make new friends, make new family members and you enjoy what we have to offer.”

Friday's activities will begin at 9 a.m., including the opening of vendors' booths and a morning walk/run. Games will follow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traditional singing will begin in the afternoon and go into the evening. A fry bread contest, sponsored by Kwatsan Radio, is slated for 7 to 8 p.m.

Saturday's events will begin at 9 a.m. with a parade, which will end at Evergreen Park. Dance contests will start at 11 a.m. and take place into the evening.

A free barbecue will be served from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a peon tournament and concert by the Gomez Band, a chicken scratch band. “Everyone is really excited at the mention of this band coming,” Prettybird said. “We haven't had chicken scratch for several years, so everyone is stirring out here with excitement.”

Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.