The procession of dancers and students entered the stage at Westmount Elementary School last week to the rhythmic sounds of traditional indigenous drumming to commence the selection process for the next Westmount School Pageant.  Each year a student from the indigenous heritage is chosen to represent the school and Pheonix Big Snake was that student.  Principal Corinna Hampson describes the process of the ceremony, "We had a Miss Westmount School Princess Pageant, where two of our students competed by introducing themselves, answering impromptu questions, and doing a traditional native dance.  There was a panel of judges, previous First Nation princesses of the Calgary Stampede actually who they were.  It is only for one year, so we already had one last year, Emma Labelle who passed on her crown to Phoenix."

This was a great step to promote strong female role models within the school and community.  Hampson talks about the duties of the princess, "We had our elder of course, who said a prayer for Phoenix when she was crowned, and we had our traditional drummer for each of the dances and her victory dance at the end.  We really want her to take on a leadership role in our school.  Pheonix is actually part of our student government as well so she works with our spirit days, she sets up for assemblies, she does announcements during the day, so that is part of her role.  She also represents us in the Powwow circuit."

Dressed in their Regalia both girls were quite proud to seek the title to carry on this great new tradition at Westmount School