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Miss Indian Nations XVII Jennifer Mellette "TaSunke Gii Nanji Win" (Her Horse Returns To Stand By Her) Tribal Affiliations Standing Rock Nation Personal Information I, Jennifer Mellette, “Sunke Gii Nanji Win”, was born January 18, 1989 in Fort Yates, North Dakota on the Standing Rock Nation, to Beverly Iron Shield and Ben Mellette, Jr.. I grew up in McLaughlin, South Dakota on the “Rock,” and have been blessed to travel to many places in my young life. I can also call many of the surrounding reservations in North and South Dakota my home as well. In continuing with my oyate’s traditional upbringing and values, in my early years I was raised by my beloved maternal grandmother, Martha Takes the Hat Dobler. My parents, siblings, and extended family as well as many of my uncis and lalas have all taken part in my education in both the outside world and in my traditional Lakota/Dakota world. It was through this education, taught by love and fed by a sense of self, that has brought me to today and has made me a successful young Native American woman. I have overcome many obstacles in my time and have faced all with dignity, grace, and courage that I owe to my ancestors and elders. I have been drug and alcohol free my entire life and will remain so to honor and uphold the former way of life of my people on Standing Rock where at one time this did not exist. I have worked to help all peers and younger generations to avoid and sustain from the use of such unnecessary substances. As a witness to a mass epidemic of suicide on my reservation and by also losing a number of close friends and family to suicide, I have devoted much of my time to the education and prevention of suicide, speaking out to peers and helping them in any way that I can. It is in their memory that I carry on the work of prevention and education in as many communities as I can. I have been honored with many awards that I contribute to my culture and education. I have pushed forward from Head Start to Kindergarten on a path to Elementary, Middle and High School. During my time in the McLaughlin Public School system, I have held numerous titles and served as a representative for the school as well as my Native American community. These honors are: Little Miss Bear Soldier, Little Miss Standing Rock, Junior Miss Bear Soldier, Junior Miss Standing Rock, Miss Bear Soldier, Miss Standing Rock, Miss Indian Youth 2000, Miss Seventh Generation Youth Culture Club, Outstanding Sophomore, Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Representative, Outstanding Junior, American Legion Auxiliary Girl’s State Representative, Outstanding Citizen and Community Service Certificate of Merit, and nominations for Who’s Who in American High School Students, National American English Scholars Program, Presidential Classroom for Diplomacy and Law, National Youth Leadership Forum on Law, South Dakota House Commemoration #1010, a Tribal Resolution honoring my first term as Miss Standing Rock and finally, the biggest honor of them all ~ my High School Diploma, which I received May 21st of 2007! While sought out by many universities and military academies, I applied for and was accepted to Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, which I attended with my brother, Jody for the first semester. I am active in the NSU community, often participating in cultural exchange programs held either on or off campus. I have been able to represent Native American students while on trips and have helped to recruit more students to Northern State University. I have effectively become a member of the NSU family and university, serving as a spokesperson for the university powwow and royalty pageant. I my objective has always been to help my friends and relatives continue their education and become moving members of the world. In my time at NSU as a third year, full-time student, I have been honored with the Crazy Horse Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Freshman of the Year and was honored in May of my freshman year with an opportunity to continue helping my people, most importantly, the youth of not only my nation, but of all tribal nations in the USA. I was asked by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to represent the Native American outlook on Youth Permanence at the National Convening of Youth Permanence 2008 in Washington, D.C. It was here that I was able to speak up and continue advocating for the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. I have been an advocate for the youth and a spokesperson for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe since I held my first title at the age of three and will continue to be a spokesperson and role model for all Native American youth throughout Indian Country. I plan to attend Law School at either the University of Colorado or Harvard School of Law; both have shown interest and are my personal top two choices. I was recently invited to a summer school session at the Kennedy School of Government, a prestigious school at Harvard University. After I graduate from Law School, I plan to specialize in ICWA law, family law, and intend to start a firm with two of my cousins, both of whom are active lawyers. My ultimate goal is take a place in tribal, state and national politics. These goals were shaped for me by my late grandfather, Pat McLaughlin, a former chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. I plan to become a chairwoman, state representative, and U.S. Senator, all culminating to a run for the presidency of the United States of America. In my free time I make wasna, create designs, and help make my dance outfits in all three categories of American Indian woman’s dance. I play many instruments, and have self taught myself to play, sing and dance both on the powwow trail and at various youth functions. I read as many books as I can, collect biographies and all the information I can on my heros and major influences, notably her Lala Piza, Marcus Aurelius, and Rene DeCartes. I take part in intramurals on campus and martial arts programs for NSU students. I have finished an internship with the SRST Tourism Office and was honored to learn much of the Tribe’s history along with my own history as well.
		Miss Indian Nations XVI Alyssa Alberts Arikara/Dakota New Town, ND
Miss Indian Nations XV Shere Lynn Wright Sicangu Lakota Rosebud, SD	Miss Indian Nations XIV Ponka We Victors Tohono O'odham/Ponca Nation Wichita, KS	Miss Indian Nations XIII Bobbi Rae Sage Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara Mandaree, ND
Miss Indian Nations XII Cody Harjo Seminole/Otoe/Creek Ada, OK	Miss Indian Nations XI Vijaya Watson San Carlos Apache Tempe, AZ	Miss Indian Nations X Dillene Hoffman White Mountain Apache Whiteriver, AZ
Miss Indian Nations IX Ivy Kim Scott Blackfeet Confederacy Alberta, Canada	Miss Indian Nations VIII Vonnie Jo Alberts Arikara/Dakota Newtown, ND	Miss Indian Nations VII Sunny Walker Standing Rock Sioux McLaughlin, SD
Miss Indian Nations VI Jolene One Star Sicangu Lakota/Oneida/Seneca Two Strikes, SD	Miss Indian Nations V J.C. Lonetree HoChunk Nation Talequah, OK	Miss Indian Nations IV Teresa Snow Nokoda Sioux/Yuma/Quechan Alberta, Canada
Miss Indian Nations III Carmelita Leonard Navajo Gallup, NM	Miss Indian Nations II Elizabeth Olney Chippewa/Cree Havre, MT	Miss Indian Nations I A.J. Gillette Arikara Denver, CO

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Miss Indian Nations XVII

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