Samantha Keen named Miss Keetoowah Cherokee
Kristy Feather Daugherty named Jr. Miss Keetoowah Cherokee

Tahlequah, Okla. -- Eighteen year old Samantha Keen, from Westville, Oklahoma was crowned Miss Keetoowah Cherokee 2008 - 2009 on Friday, September 12 at the Miss Keetoowah Cherokee Pageant held at the Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center. Miss Kristy Feather Daugherty was crowned Jr. Miss Keetoowah Cherokee 2008-2009.

The event officially kicked off the 58th Annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration, which will be held Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4 in Tahlequah. The celebration theme is "Rich in Tradition, Strength for the Future". "This year, our celebration will pay tribute to the Keetoowah Cherokee People - the traditional Cherokee people," said Chief George Wickliffe. "Thanks to the lifestyle and teachings of our elders, the Keetoowah Cherokee Tribe is rich in our traditions, and by investing in our tribe's youth and education, we ensure strength for the future, " said Assistant Chief Charles Locust.

The role of Miss and Jr. Miss Keetoowah Cherokee is to serve as a good will ambassador for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma and to serve as a messenger to promote the culture, traditions and heritage of the Keetoowah Cherokee people.

In the pageant, contestants were required to perform in several categories including Introduction and Traditional Dress; a Platform presentation on an issue that will be the focus of the candidate's reign; a talent competition, and a question and answer competition with questions about the history, culture and language of the Keetoowah Cherokees.

Miss Keen, a graduate of Westville High School is the daughter of Barbara Keen of Westville and Bob Keen of Lowery. She attends Coffeyville Community College and will major in Veterinarian Medicine. She also works at the South Coffeyville Sale Barn. Her platform was on "Respect" and her talent presentation was storytelling, where she told "Why the Cornhusk Doll has no Face".

Kristy Feather Daugherty, 15 won the crown for JR. Miss Keetoowah Cherokee and gave a presentation in the talent category on how to make clay beads. She is of the Wolf Clan and is the daughter of Ann and Nathaniel Glass and Jimmy Daugherty. She is from Stilwell, and attends Sequoyah High School. Her goal is to attend college and become a psychologist.