2016 Combined

Emily S oemake's 'EEK:F-----'-t-'"-;:;;:,,___- memorable re1___ ven though E ~h~miak 1 e·~ reign as the 2015 Choctaw Indian Princess . . has ended, the

opporturut1es and memories the title has given her will last a lifetime. · Shoemake was selected prince~s in la~t year's pageant, and said that in previous years she did the pageant for he; mom. . Last year, she decided to do ~~ ~or h~~;lf in a way and just did 1t. Her motivation throughout the process was making her mom proud. Her favorite part was meet ing ~ kinds of people and !earning more about her her itage . . The 20-year-old traveled to Denver, Colo., for a pow wow ~d met members from many different Native American tribes and observed dancing and other facets of Native ~erican culture. She really enjoyed that experience as well as learning the Cho~taw lan§Uage throughout the year. As a result ofbeing around the tribal members pretty often and hearing them speak the language, I've picked up a lot more than what I knew before," she said. Shoemake said many little girls in the Choctaw communi ty look up to the current princesses. She remembers looking up to the princesses as well, and her job as princess is to be a good role model for them. "I want to be able to be something that they want to be when they grow up," she said. Shoemake comes from a military family, and this past year, she fulfilled what she bel~e~ed i~ her destiny by enhshng m the National Guard. She is heading to basic training in September after graduating from East Central Community College this past year. fight for our people and serve our country," she said. "lt's something I've always wanted to do." Her biggest goal this past year was to finish school which she did. '

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"Just growing up in a fami- 'PEAL ly like mine made me want to

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