AN INTERVIEW WITH CINDA HUGHES

Arigon Starr interviewed Cinda Hughes in August 2003 prior to her win as the national Miss Wheelchair America. "Cinda and I met at the 1999 Native American Music Awards. She interivewed me for her radio show in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, that talk show didn't survive, but Cinda kept on plugging. She invited me to join her at the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. We had a great time there. When she let me know she was running for this pagaent, I made sure we had time to sit and talk with each other when I visited Oklahoma on tour."

KIOWA ACTIVIST CINDA HUGHES CAMPAIGNS FOR EQUALITY

The disabled Oklahoma advocate is Miss Wheelchair Oklahoma and will compete for the national title.

By Arigon Starr

August 2003 -- Tulsa, Oklahoma: Cinda Hughes is a Native dynamo. Although a birth defect left her a quadraplegic, she is arguably the most active member of the Kiowa Tribe. A former radio talk show host, Cinda remains a political activist, and a columnist for the very hip, entertainment website "Ain't It Cool News." She is also the reigning Miss Wheelchair Oklahoma. On July 22nd, Cinda will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the national Miss Wheelchair America pageant.

Her professionalism, charm and humor have attracted many fans. With her big, brown eyes, Kiowa good looks and engaging personality, it makes you wonder when she plans to run for elected office.

She would definitely get my vote.

I spoke with Cinda in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the Chilocco Indian School Reunion.

CINDA HUGHES (CH): I decided to be in this pageant because this is not a beauty pageant. The purpose and mission of Miss Wheelchair America is to be a public advocate and to talk to decision and policy makers about the lives of people with disabilities. Three out of five American Indians live with a disability. We are the quiet majority. I wanted to bring awareness about the plight of most of Native America and what our lives are like with a disability. We need to retain affirmative action policies, anti-discrimination policies, the ADA and all that helps to better the lives of those that live with disabilities.

ARIGON STARR (AS): How did you find out about the pageant?

CH: My Comanche friend, Jackie Woomavoyah was a former Miss Wheelchair Oklahoma. She revived the program, which had been dormant in Oklahoma for decades. She said there was an opening for contestants. Personally, I thought at 41 years of age I was far too old to be entering any kind of pageant whatsoever (laughs). She told me what the purpose of it was for. I knew I was able to speak about these subjects and I've been a grassroots political advocate for many, many years. I thought I could contribute not only to the Indian community, but to the disability community at large.

AS: How many people were in the pageant?

CH: Actually, there were only two of us.

AS: What? No!!

CH: Yes. That's another reason I joined. I am hoping next year through the publicity and the network of people I know who have been so supportive of my efforts that we're going to turn this into a much larger pageant. I'm going to send out the butterfly net and start snagging wonderful young ladies to enter so we can increase awareness in the state of Oklahoma.

AS: That's wonderful. Readers, she is gorgeous. The pictures don't do her justice! (They laugh.) Do you feel like you were a born advocate?

CH: Yes. My grandparents raised me. They were full-blood Kiowa on my mother's side. My grandfather told me I had a purpose for being born. He believed my purpose was to show the world that people with disabilities could be productive members of society and that we had a lot to contribute. Through my efforts, work, gifts of speech, I would open doors for others to obtain employment and to survive. Being Indian, I'm very blessed with a large family, so I have a lot of help. Those not raised in that kind of culture, in that communal way, really flounder if they don't have the public policy initiatives, anti-discrimination laws that make it possible to survive. You've got to be able to eat, be able to put a roof over your head -- all those different things most of America takes for granted. People with disabilities live a very insecure, unstable life wondering one day to the next, "How am I going to feed myself? How am I going to get someone to help me use the restroom? How am I going to get to class?" My grandpa always told me, "You have to do well in school because you'll have to work. You're going to have hire people to help you and be able to provide these things for yourself." I have a great empathy for those who live this life. It's not an easy life, but it is not without rewards. I have learned tenacity and perseverance. There is great satisfaction in being able to give back to the community and to my family. I take pride in the ability I have. I am grateful I can speak for people who have no voice.

AS: What is your biggest challenge for the pageant?

CH: I am so nervous! In front of bright lights, cameras, and people in the audience I hope I will be able to remain aware enough to stand up to the pressure. I'm also hopeful I don't come across as too gruff, because I get very passionate about my politics and what Indians and those with disabilities need. When I start speaking seriously about what is passionate to me, I have to be cognizant that there is a great learning curve.

AS: I know you're a great advocate for political change here in Oklahoma. What is the hottest topic in Oklahoma?

CH: It has to be the "One Nation" group. One Nation is a political action committee made up of the Convenience Store Organization and the Independent Petroleum Marketers & Producers Association. What they want to bring about is a "level playing field." Indian country knows that "level playing field" jargon. We are becoming too self-sufficient, too good at what we do. We're viewed as a threat to the competitive market. It's a misunderstanding and a misperception of what tribes contribute to the state. We are the number one employer and taxpayer in Oklahoma. Hopefully, the tribes will become cognizant and put forward a public relations campaign to educate the dominant culture of these fallacies in perception and fact.

AS: What are your goals and dreams?

CH: I would love to have a nationally syndicated radio program where I talk about social and political issues and confront them head-on. Talk Radio is so overrun by conservative males -- even the females are conservative. I think America is ready for an Indian Oprah Winfrey. I think I am the chick for that job!

AS: Our culture always talks about warriors. In my travels, I've seen some male warriors, probably not as many as there should be. I've seen more female warriors, like you, who are out there on the front lines. Do you have some encouragement for other female warriors?

CH: Oh, yeah! My great-grandmother was on the War and Wagon Train raid in Texas, along with men from the Kiowa Tribe. She carried a big, fat giant knife and did her fair share of fighting with the men. I think that there are many women warriors from our ancestors' past who kept the home fires burning, bore those children, preserved, fed and clothed them and continue to do so. They are warriors. It's not whether you have a big mouth or able to speak up in front of cameras or microphones. It's at home when you teach your boys to be respectful of women. When you teach your girls to stand up for themselves and to not relegate themselves to the roles society would like to prescribe for them. That is being a warrior. That is the toughest job on earth.