Happy Canyon Princess 2018
Tayler Craig
Becoming a Happy Canyon Princess was on TAYLER CRAIG’s short list of goals for as long as she can remember. Craig applied for the position after spending years beading and preparing, and then nearly missed her interview. In the end it all paid off. Craig was born in Yakima, Washington, but she is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation. Her parents are Rachel Hoptowit and Fermore Craig. On her mother’s side her grandparents are the late Belva Jean Hoptowit and the late William McLean. On her father’s side her grandfather is Fermore Craig Sr. and the Late Priscilla Craig. Here are the questions from the CUJ: Q. What’s your favorite kind of food? I love Mexican food and Sushi. Q. What’s are your favorite movies? 42 with Jackie Robinson. Q. What books have you read recently? American Wolf, a true story of survival and obsession in the west. Q. Where did you go to school?
Q&A
September 2018
Happy Canyon Princess? My favorite part would be representing our incredible community. I also love interacting with the little kids. Their eyes light up with delight and I am pretty sure they think we are the real life Pocahontas. It warms my heart to spend a few minutes interacting with them and making them feel special. Q. What are your future plans once your reign as a Happy Canyon Princess is over? I will be returning to BMCC (Blue Mountain Community College( in September. When finished up there I hope to transfer to EOU (Eastern Oregon University) for the nursing program. Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is my current employer and I plan to continue working as I am surrounded by amazing health care professionals. Q. What is your favorite music? I love everything from old school rock to today’s country, anything that makes me happy. Q. What is your best childhood memory? My favorite childhood memory would be getting my pony Nicholas for my fifth birthday. He was the best. Q. What kind of bond have you created with your fellow HC Princess? I’ve developed a fun bond with Sequoia. We both like books, going to the movies and we both love to take a lot of pictures together during our travels. We’ve shared so many laughs and memories. Q. What has made you most proud in life? Graduating high school and fulfilling my long term goal of becoming a Happy Canyon Princess. Q. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? I would like to travel to Hawaii and visit my aunt Kaimi; she’s been a huge supporter and I would like to explore the beautiful island and try their native food and possibly catch a few waves. Q. If you could only keep five possessions what would they be? Why? I would keep my traditional regalia, a drawing pad with pencils, my puppy Hunter, my horse Lane, my I-phone. I would keep these possessions because they make my heart swell with joy. Q. If you could witness any event of the past present, or future, what would it be? I would like to travel back in time to 1964 to Tokyo to witness Billy Mills win the gold medal in the I went to Pendleton High School. 10,000-meter run. Q. What teacher has had the most impact in your Q. If you could meet anyone in the world, present or life? Why? past, who would it be? Why? My kindergarten teacher Mrs. Stewart from McKay I would like to meet Jim Thorpe if he were still livElementary School. She was so encouraging, kind, caring. He was the greatest Native American athlete ever. ing and just an overall inspiration to me. Q. Who do you admire most in life? Why? Q. What have you learned I admire my mom Rachel from being a Happy Canyon Hoptowit. Sshe has been my Princess? “My favorite part would be reprebiggest fan. She’s always supI’ve learned that we have ported my dreams and been senting our incredible community. the most incredible commuby my side making anything I also love interacting with the little nity. They have embraced, possible for me. Anyone who kids, their eyes light up with delight supported and encouraged us knows my mom knows she and I am pretty sure they think we every step of the way on this would rather chew glass than are the real life Pocahontas.” phenomenal journey. watch me get on a horse and Q. Was there any specific ride through a parade. She skill you needed to learn to - Happy Canyon Princess is terrified of horses, but she Tayler Craig carry out your duties as HC continues to be at every event Princess (i.e. horse-riding, with me. public speaking, waving, etc.) Q. If you won the lottery, Yes, I am typically not very girly. I am a jean and what would you do? T-shirt type of girl. I have had to polish a few skills and I would finish school, buy a house plus two more learn to be comfortable in a dress. I was not groomed horses, get my mom a Maserati Q4 and I also would set to be a princess so the whole make-up application took up scholarship that would pay for costs and travel for some time to warm up to. Speaking to large crowds can future Happy Canyon princesses. It’s been an excepbe intimidating but like anything else, practice helps. See Craig on page 18B Q. What has been your favorite part of being a
Confederated Umatilla Journal
17B