Siksika Nation and Strathmore residents will be celebrating as Astokomii Smith has been crowned the new 2019 Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess.

Smith is a 19-year-old Fancy Shawl dancer from the Siksika Nation. She recently graduated from Siksika Outreach and received the Governor General Award for Highest Academics and is currently the FCSS Summer Indigenous Liaison Student for the Town of Strathmore.

Her name in Blackfoot language translates to "Calling Thunder" and "Voice of Thunder." She attends ceremonies and powwows with her grandmother and was initiated into the Medicine Pipe Society.

This year is the first year the Calgary Stampede and Elbow River Camp have had the competition under the name ‘Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess Pageant’. The former name was Indian Princess Pageant. In July 2018, the Indian Village was also renamed the Elbow River Camp.

Smith wants to be a role model for younger generations and believes that mental and physical health should be put first, and that education is the new way of survival.

The ceremony was held on Sunday September 23 at the Carriage House Inn.

The princess represents the five nations of Treaty 7 -- the Kainai, Tsuut’ina, Stoney Nakoda, Siksika and Piikani, as well as the Elbow River Camp at the Calgary Stampede.