For the past 50 years, individuals from Napavine, Washington have participated in and been crowned in the Princess Napawinah Pageant. The Pageant perpetuates the typical and harmful racist stereotypes we see of Indigenous peoples, and those affiliated with it refuse to change.

Since the Pageant's conception in 1973, the crowned Princess Napawinah has been dressed in a stereotypical buckskin dress, adorned with a feather headdress, and when on floats, stationed in front of a teepee. As Napavine is located in southwestern Washington, every single item associated with the Princess is incredibly culturally inappropriate and inaccurate. Furthermore, the majority of Princess Napawinah's have not been of Native descent to the extent that it is appropriate for them to wear these items.

The Princess Napawinah Pageant showcases the cultural appropriation of Native cultures, people, and traditions to the highest extent. As a result, the Pageant is degrading, racist, and a perpetrator of colonization and ongoing settler-colonial violence. Whether those affiliated with the Princess Napawinah Pageant recognize this or not, their "tradition" actively harms surrounding Native communities and people because it continues racist stereotypes that impede the true histories and cultures of the people Indigenous to the region.

Despite Tribal input regarding the inappropriateness of the Princess Napawinah Pageant, the committee refuses to change and continuously ignores and undermines these complaints by claiming that no problems have been raised, and that they have a "heritage" right to celebrate Princess Napawinah, as her name is allegedly where the city name- Napavine- stems from (linguists and historians have proven this to be false). Ultimately, the Princess Napawinah Pageant is only their attempt to naturalize their presence in the Newaukum Valley. In this case, such an attempt is reminiscent of colonialistic practices and efforts to erase and mystify Native presence in the area.

We DEMAND that those in charge of the Princess Napawinah Pageant change the current structure of this event to a celebration that is less degrading, racist, and stereotypical. We DEMAND that they stop making a mockery of Indigenous cultures and create an event that does NOT rely on exploiting Indigenous traditions. We DEMAND that the reformation of the Princess Napawinah Pageant is made in conjunction and with the approval of Tribes, their people, and other Native communities.

In order to show the Napavine Funtime Festival Committee just how truly harmful and degrading the Princess Napawinah Pageant is to Native peoples, please consider signing this petition. Such racist and derogatory forms of cultural appropriation must come to an end.

DISCLAIMER: The City of Napavine is NOT affiliated with the Princess Napawinah Pageant.