Mattagami youth competes at Miss North Ontario pageant

Janelle Golinowski, a member of Mattagami First Nation, will be showcasing her talents as a traditional dancer at the Miss North Ontario Regional Canada Pageant 2014. The 18-year-old is proud to have been selected to represent her community for the pageant to be held May 1-3 at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.

“I am really excited to be taking part in this event as an Aboriginal woman,” said Golinowski. “It gives me an opportunity to promote and celebrate our Aboriginal culture and act as a positive role model for other young First Nation women.”

Featuring young women between the ages of 13 to 24, the pageant is an annual event that was created to help foster personal development in contestants as well as to promote and support charitable organizations and tourism in Northern Ontario.

Currently in her final year at Timmins High and Vocational School, Golinowski plans on continuing her education and hopes to pursue a career in either medicine or engineering.

Golinowski said that growing up in Mattagami has grounded her in Native traditions and culture, thanks to the Elders in the community. First introduced to traditional dance at the annual Mattagami Pow Wow, she started dancing in 2012 with the help of local traditional teacher and dancer Dana McKenzie. At the 2013 Mattagami Pow Wow, Golinowski was honoured with the title of Head Youth Dancer.

Since being selected for the pageant, Golinowski has been busy with promotional activities, gathering sponsorships and preparing for the event while completing her regular studies and responsibilities at home.

In addition to the crowning of Miss North Ontario Regional Canada, other award categories are up for grabs for the 46 participants. Supporters can vote for Golinowski for the People’s Choice Award through the pageant’s website: www.missnorthontario.com

The pageant event is also an official preliminary to Miss Teen Canada World and Miss Universe Canada.