Waswanipi’s Esquay Masty proudly represented Eeyou Istchee at the third annual Miss Indigenous Canada pageant, hosted July 24 by Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario. While the title was ultimately won by Brooke Metchewais from Cold Lake First Nation, Masty achieved a place in the prestigious top five.
The five-day program was filled with workshops, cultural tours, formal dinners and other activities supporting the development of community leaders. During the final showcase, Masty’s eloquence spotlighted her ability to be an ambassador for Indigenous youth across the country.
“You do not need to be on Chief and Council to be a leader,” asserted Masty in her semi-final speech. “You are already a leader. For me, leadership is not going where there is a path and leading. It is going where there is no path, and leading.”
Masty was attracted by the program’s emphasis on leadership and media skills, community engagement and cultural connection. Her platform based on education, justice and youth empowerment resonated with judges and, out of 125 applicants, she was selected as one of Miss Indigenous Canada’s 20 participants.
“I’m going to law school this fall and I want to strengthen these governance systems to reflect our laws, ways, languages and traditions,” explained Masty. “I believe education is one of the strongest tools we have to transform our realities as Indigenous people. We’re very over-represented within the justice system, however we’re under-represented in the legal professions.”
Masty hopes other Cree people are inspired to pursue their own educational journey. “Eeyou Istchee will always be there,” she suggested. “You’re just leaving to come back as a better person for the betterment of your community.”
Ahead of the pageant, Masty penned an essay about what the title means to her and created a scrapbook that discussed her community involvement. While securing sponsors and organizing cultural workshops and charity events, Masty also connected with Jade Mukash, who represented Eeyou Istchee at the first Miss Indigenous Canada pageant in 2024.
“I was doing ribbon skirt-making workshops, providing an outlet for women and girls to connect with the culture,” Masty said. “That process carries a sort of spirit, the way you pick out your ribbons and fabric and create the skirt. I want to make them a casual thing, to wear my ribbon skirt out in the street and just feel comfortable in it.”
Masty also spoke to the Youth Councils of Eeyou Istchee summit in Quebec City and held a beading workshop on Parliament Hill.
Living in Ottawa to attend university, Masty continues to learn from her mother, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty. Absorbing her mother’s talent for public speaking has helped Masty project clearly and confidently on stage.
“She has been one of my greatest role models, watching her speak so eloquently, carrying herself with grace and having respect for other people regardless of the situation that she’s in,” Masty said. “She inspires me to get out of my comfort zone, try new things and be that trailblazer to other girls and women – that’s what I want to do.”
Arriving to a welcoming ceremony at Six Nations, participants met the previous winner, Gena Boubard, a two-spirit woman who helped the program become more inclusive. During the action-packed week, Masty wore earrings made by Boubard and others from Miss Whapmagoostui, Joni Boudrias.
Visiting Toronto on the second day, they met with Mayor Olivia Chow and the University of Toronto’s Indigenous association before visiting the Royal Ontario Museum. An Elder then smudged a sharing circle at the hotel.
“That’s something I struggle with, to be vulnerable with people I don’t know,” Masty admitted. “That opens up who you are and sets the tone for others to be vulnerable and share. I felt so much lighter at the end – calmer, relieved, grateful, blessed.”
Crees, she added, are “soft-spoken, kind of quiet, but we’re very knowledgeable in the sense of our culture and our hunting practices.” Bonding like sisters throughout the week, Masty marvelled that some women had never eaten goose.
A visit to Brantford’s former residential school, which Masty’s great-grandmother had attended, felt like “a full-circle healing moment.” She experienced a profound realization that the Indigenous cultures that colonizers had tried to suppress in her ancestors were now thriving on a national stage.
During the competition’s cultural presentations, Masty spoke about the Cree Nation’s traditions and its hunting rights under Section 24 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. She showcased traditional snowshoes, a moose antler and the beaded head from her husband’s first goose. A tamarack decoy from the Wachiya Store was a big hit.
“We were very happy Esquay requested sponsorship for the event,” said Dale Cooper, executive director of the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association. “It’s national exposure for the Cree Nation. She has engaged with CNACA’s local arts committees – she’s a great role model as well.”
Masty said she’s happy for the new Miss Indigenous Canada, reflecting on how amazing it was to be surrounded by so many remarkable young women. She expressed gratitude for her sponsors and the support of her family, who reminded her she could do this even when she thought she couldn’t.
“It’s my first-ever time doing a pageant like this, putting yourself forward to thousands of people,” said Masty. “Working on self-image and not doubting myself, which I think a lot of women struggle with. No, you are good enough for this. It’s hard but hard things make you grow.”