Interview with Karen Lilly 1979-10-01

Description: 

Karen Lilly, the 1979-1980 Choctaw Princess, speaks about her experience with the pageant. She explains that contestants must be sponsored by someone who provides them with materials such as dresses, shoes, and accessories to wear during the pageant. Contestants go through several stages of judgement and must write an essay on one of three major topics and present it orally—Lilly’s essay was about preserving Choctaw culture. She also describes her and her family’s reactions to finding out about her win. Lilly has studied in public schools and in Choctaw Central on the reservation and she uses her experiences to discuss the differences between these educational institutions.

Tribe, Community, Culture: 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Community: 
University of Florida
Protocol: 
University of Florida Public Access
Category: 
Arts and Culture, Biography, Education
Keywords: 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi--Philadelphia, Women, Education
Original Date: 
1979 October 1st
Creator: 
Karen Lilly
Contributor: 
Annette Convey, Joanne Thompson, Staff of Nanih Waiya
Language: 
English
Rights: 
Rights retained by interview participants. Interviews are made available to promote deeper understanding of the histories and cultures of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. You are responsible for determining if your use of this item is permitted by copyright and related rights legislation, including exceptions such as fair use or fair dealing.
Source: 
University of Florida Samuel Proctor Oral History Program
Publisher: 
University of Florida
Identifier: 
MISS CHOC 057
Type: 
Audio Recording, Transcript
Format: 
MP3, PDF