Sweetgrass First Nation's Lyrik Albert celebrates being crowned Miss FSIN as Aly Bear, vice chief of FSIN looks on. (Submitted Photo/Shelley Mike)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Miss FSIN

Sweetgrass teen wins Miss FSIN

Oct 30, 2023 | 1:35 PM

Being named Miss FSIN had been a life-long dream for 15-year-old Lyrik Albert of Sweetgrass First Nation.

A couple of weeks ago, that dream came true. On October 21, the teen was honoured with a pink crown and sash during the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Powwow in Sakatoon.

“I’ve been very inspired by all the beautiful princesses,” she said of past winners of the FSIN Powwow Princess Pageant.

The near 80-year tradition sees teenage competitors judged in different areas including public speaking and a dancing component.

BattlefordsNOW reached out to the FSIN for an interview, but at the time of publication did not receive a response.

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Albert’s journey to get the crown really began several years earlier. Due to the pandemic, she couldn’t make a challenge, but last year when the pageant opened again, the teen applied.

“It was kind of just to perform, you know. I wanted to just get that experience, I didn’t expect to win last year,” Albert said noting she did come in second runner-up.

Moving into competition this year, the teen felt like she had the experience to run again and knew what to expect while competing against four other girls.

“I feel very grateful that FSIN did reach out to me to run again,” she said.

“I was very honoured to step up.”

Albert’s journey to her moment of glory was marked by family emergencies as she was working on her application, and it made for a stressful environment.

“I just had to try to keep my calm as best as I could and I knew that if I had the motivation and the support that I needed, I would be able to go through with all the stuff that was required and I’m very happy that I did,” she said.

“I mean look where it got me today.”

As part of the competition, Albert had to write an essay on a topic of concern, and she chose to focus on “revitalizing our traditional ways of living and inspiring the youth…to continue to learn those ways.”

There was also a portfolio to submit and during the powwow, had to compete in a dance competition.

“The whole pageant was based on points, so everything that you handed in was judged,” she said.

Meanwhile, now that the teen has started her reign, she will be a youth representative of communities in Treaty 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 territories.

“We are supposed to go across North America to different powwows and different events to represent this title and FSIN,” she said.

“There’s actually 73 communities that are included in FSIN so, I’m very excited to see what that will bring me to.”
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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

@battlefordsnow