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Berg first Miss Tikigaq to take WEIO crown

August 3rd 3:01 pm | Hannah Heimbuch Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

When Rosemary Janae Berg took the 2012 Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics title in July, she took home an honor for an entire community.

Berg entered the pageant as Miss Tikigaq, representing the North Slope community of Point Hope. Two weeks ago she became the first Miss Tikigaq to take the Miss WEIO crown.

Miss WEIO is a culture-based competition, with contestants judged on personal interviews, talent and impromptu speech.

"I feel so awesome and honored," Berg said.

Berg competed against four other young Alaskan Native women. Her platform centered on encouraging Alaskan people and communities to push through the shadow of domestic violence, abuse and tragedy.

"You don't have to be defined by the things that have happened in your past," Berg said. "You can define yourself."

This is a journey that Berg herself has gone on, she said, and she uses her experience of hope and survival to send positive messages to others.

Berg is originally Point Hope but grew up in Anchorage after being adopted. Now a 22-year-old college student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she is in her senior year of studying rural development with a focus on community research and indigenous knowledge. This title, and the community involvement role that comes with it, only adds to her life and academic interests.

"I'm really excited because, (as) most people that know me know, I'm really passionate about Alaska Native people, especially Alaska Native women," Berg said.

Berg said she received and outpouring of support from both her adoptive family, and the biological family that still resides in Point Hope.

"When I won they were just beyond happy," Berg said. "I have people texting me saying they announced it on the CB."

With the title comes a host of responsibilities, including appearing in April at the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico to participate in the Miss Indian World Pageant.

"I can't even explain in words how excited I am for this year," Berg said.

Her plans include putting together two basketball tournaments, and visiting Arctic villages along with others around the state. She will also be the keynote speaker at the Elders and Youth Conference in Barrow.

"I'm going to try to travel to one or tow of the villages in each of the state regions," Berg said, saying she wants to embrace the fact that she now represents the entire state.

There are many in the Arctic Slope region that are proud to see Berg representing her culture, including Ilisagvik's Mary Sage, who came across Berg when she was an ASRC scholarship recipient.

"Rosemary is a hardworking young lady," Sage said. "(She's) going to college and trying to learn the (Inupiaq) language. She's a great role model for other young Natives. She's got a great spirit and a positive attitude and I'm really excited for her."

 

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