Nalani LuzMaria Thompson has spent the past year helping people learn about the culture of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians based in Neshoba County.
Thompson was selected as the 2023-2024 Choctaw Indian Princess at age 18 during her senior year of high school, and she is set to pass the crown to a new princess on Wednesday's opening night of the 74th annual Choctaw Indian Fair that began in 1949.
The Choctaw Indian Princess has been crowned on the opening night of the annual Choctaw Indian Fair since 1955 and the princess serves a year as an ambassador for the tribe.
Thompson said one of her main duties as princess during the past year has been to be culturally knowledgeable while also doing a lot of meet-and-greets as well as making presentations to a variety of audiences.
"I've made presentations to the elderly as well as little children, so it's always important that I know my audience well and whom I'm speaking to about the events and culture," Thompson said. "That's why I'm so excited and we encourage everyone to come out and just learn more about our culture, because there will be something for everyone at this fair even for the kids. There will be Shawi's Discovery, which is like a kids' playground and lot more fun things for them to do."
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The competition for the next princess will be Wednesday, the first night of the fair, and includes four-parts that the contestants compete in, including an interview, a banquet, personal presentation and wearing traditional Choctaw clothing.
Whoever wins the pageant will work for the tribe for as an ambassador for a year until the next princess is crowned.
After passing the torch, Thompson plans to attend Southern Miss University to study nursing.
What to expect at the fair:
The 74th annual Choctaw Indian Fair returns Wednesday and will run through Saturday, July 13.
Fairgoers will experience an up-close journey of the people and culture of the Choctaws through displays, social dancing and tribal arts and crafts.
Thursday night will feature live entertainment from Grammy-Award-winning Contemporary Christian artist, Michel W. Smith. Friday night is "I love the 90s tour" with live music performances from R&B artists Backstreet, Montell Jordan, Rob Base and Young MC. Saturday's music performance will be by country artist Tyler Hubbard.
"Ayipa Village, a venue at the fair, will have local bands playing there as well along with a watermelon eating contest, dancing and other great things," Thompson said.
Members of the Stickball Field Crew, a Native American game that is similar to the popular sport lacrosse, will also be at the fair demonstrating aspects of Choctaw Stickball, explaining the history and rules of how to play and how to handle the sticks during a game.
Different food trucks will be on-site and local Choctaw food makers will be on hand cooking a variety of traditional Choctaw food such as fry bread, which can be eaten alone or eaten as a taco.
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IF YOU GO:
- When: Wednesday, July 10, through Saturday, July 13
- Where: Choctaw Indian Fair, 486 MS-16, Philadelphia
- Admission: General Admission is $20. Tickets can be purchased at ChoctawIndianfair.com
— Know an event coming up or have a good story idea? Reporter Kiara Fleming can be reached via email KDFleming@jackson.gannett.com and on X @Ki_dajournalist
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