Princess candidates:

a. Must be an enrolled student of the AISD American Indian Education Project, an enrolled member of a Title IX AIEP, or have a legal Certified Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) Card issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

b. Must be female and between the ages of fourteen (14) and twenty-one (21).

c. Must not have been previously married.

d. Must be enrolled in an accredited school or working.

e. Must have knowledge of her tribe, have general knowledge of Indian issues, customs and traditions, knowledge of the Austin Powwow organization, know powwow etiquette, and be able to speak publicly.

Requirements and responsibilities of the Austin Powwow Princess

a. Each eligible candidate must fully complete and submit an official Austin Powwow Princess application by Sept. 15. This application will made available by the Austin Powwow Princess sub-committee by the first Monday in October at the regular meeting of the Austin Powwow Committee.

b. When necessary, quarter-finalists will be selected by the Austin Powwow Princess sub-committee. These quarter-finalists will be notified by telephone and scheduled for a required personal interview with the sub-committee. Any applicants not selected for an interview will be notified by mail.
(This step of the process will be forgiven in the event that we do not receive the necessary number of applications.)

c. Semi-finalists will be selected by the subcommittee after the interview process when required.

d. Semi-finalists will be required to attend the Friday night reception (prior to) the Austin Powwow and be in attendance for the final crowning at the end of the annual Austin Powwow.

e. The reign of the Austin Powwow Princess will run from the first (1st) Saturday of November (in her selection year) to the crowning of the next incoming princess (which will take place on the first Saturday of November of the next year).

f. The reigning princess will be a member of the Austin Powwow Princess sub-committee for the next year.

g. The Austin Powwow Princess may not reign for more than one year. Any runner-up (or a princess that does not serve for an entire year) is eligible to run as a princess candidate again.

h. The Austin Powwow princess will wear the Austin Powwow Princess crown during her reign. The Austin Powwow princess subcommittee will present the incoming princess with a shawl and a banner. At the end of her reign, the princess will be given a silver crown with the year of her reign. The shawl, sash (banner) and silver crown are hers to keep and the beaded crown will return to the committee for presentation to the new princess.

i. The Austin Powwow princess will be expected to represent the Austin Powwow by participating in various powwows outlined by the Austin Powwow princess sub-committee. Bonus points will be awarded for competition dancing.

j. As the Austin Powwow princess, she will distribute fliers, be available to answer questions about the Austin Powwow organization and provide an itinerary for all events attended. (Photos of events would be greatly appreciated for the historians' s files.) She will also submit an activity report for each powwow attended along with receipts for expenses incurred.

k. The Austin Powwow committee expects our princess to be a positive role model throughout her reign.

l. Any proposed changes to these rules should be submitted to the princess sub-committee at least 2 weeks prior to the next scheduled powwow committee meeting (for recommendations).
 
 

In addition to the Austin Powwow Princess Rules and Regulations, the following will be expected of the reigning princess.

The Austin Powwow Princess will be expected to be an active participant in the following events:

Attend events sponsored by NAPC as requested, such as:

The student awards ceremony sponsored by the AISD Native American Parents Committee
The AISD Board of Trustees meeting at which November is declared American Indian Heritage Month
The Austin Powwow
A powwow in the Dallas area
A powwow in the Houston area
The Four Winds Powwow in Killeen

The events mentioned above will be mandatory and the elected princess will be expected to be in attendance for the duration (entire) event unless a valid reason (for leaving early) is submitted to the powwow princess sub-committee. (Reasons for leaving early should be submitted immediately after required events.)

In addition, the reigning princess will be expected to participate in, at least, one other powwow from the following list.

Red Earth (Oklahoma City)
San Antonio
Corpus Christi
Canyon Lake

A yearly stipend of $200.00 will be provided, by the Austin Powwow Committee, to alleviate expenses incurred for participation in events that are not local. While there may, at times, be more monies available for travel (i.e. Budget increase or sponsors that designate donations specifically for the Austin Powwow Princess), it is understood that the travel stipend is meant to alleviate expenses to powwows already being attended by the applicant.