The 2004-2005 Miss Indian World, an Ojibwe from
Red Lake Nation, Red Lake, Minnesota:
Miss Delana Smith.

Boozhoo, my name is Delana Lynn Smith. I am 23 years old. I am an enrolled member of Red Lake. My Parents are Paul and Norine Smith. My paternal grandparents are Paul and Melvina Smith. My maternal grandparents are Roman and Evon Beaulieu. I have one sister, Shillo (Smith) Reynolds and one nephew, Christopher Reynolds.

My Indian name was given to me by Olive Neadeau, my great-grandmother. She named me Wa-bi-go-naice, which means Little Flower.

I recently graduated, with high honors, from Northwest Technical College. I earned a degree in Early Childhood Education.

I enjoy working with and guiding our future. I am a teacher at the Red Lake Head Start. Everyday I am given the opportunity to work with four and five year children. In our classroom we like to do "hands-on" activities. We cook, dance, sing, and do a lot of projects and experiments. Every day is a new and exciting adventure. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work with children. They, too, are great teachers.

Delana Smith