Greetings to all of my people in Lumbee Country! I am Ciena Raine Fedor, the thirteen year old daughter of Crystal Fedor of Pembroke, NC. It is with great honor and gratitude that I serve as your 2012-2013 Junior Miss Lumbee! I would like to thank God for bestowing this opportunity upon me, and I continue to cling to my favorite Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13), because without HIM, this chance would not be possible! I also want to thank everyone who has sponsored and supported me morally, financially and prayerfully! I especially want to thank my Mama, my Nana, Annette “Mama-Nette” Herndon, Miss Erica Dellinger, Mrs. Demetria Hunt Wall, Mrs. Bethany Brewington Kimel, and Mrs. Karen & Erika Lyndsey Locklear! I am so grateful for your support and I love you all so much for helping me prepare for this great title!

        I know that my upcoming year as Lumbee Ambassador will shower countless opportunities and blessings upon me! The first of the many blessings so far is to be a part of such an amazing court of talented Lumbee Ambassadors that I have the honor of calling “my sisters!” Being an only child is not always fun, so I am so excited to have three wonderful sisters in my life, all at once! I am overjoyed about bonding with and reigning with Liliana, Kayla and Courtney, as we do our very best to represent all of you well.

        I have been very busy since I achieved this title. Some of my appearances so far include: the Senior Miss Lumbee Pageant, Teen/Miss Lumbee Pageant, Lumbee Homecoming Parade and Pow Wow, the Lumbee Outdoor Gospel Concert and Fireworks Show, Lumber River Day, the Lumbee Coronation Ball, NC Division for the Blind Cultural Event in Raleigh, UNCP’s Experiencing a Brave New World for the Freshman Class of 2012, Lumbee Regional Development Association’s Board Meeting, Peace in the Park Concert ~ featuring Beast, Greensboro Native American Association’s Pow Wow, Saddletree Community Pow Wow, American Indian Women of Proud Nation’s Welcome Reception, AIWPN’s ZUMBA! Native Style, AIWPN’s Jingle Dress Panel, AIWPN’s Elder and Children’s Honor Ceremony, and Peace in the Park Concert ~ featuring Jana Mashonee.

        I anticipate many more appearances and the chances to share and my culture and expand my knowledge of other cultures as well. During my reign, I also plan to promote my self-invented platform, H.E.A.L., Healthy Eating and Active Living, by incorporating our First Lady, Michelle Obama’s Initiative “Let’s Move in Indian Country.” I was afforded the opportunity to attend the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) Conference in Minnesota and was one of ten youth that taught Beyonce’s dance “Move Your Body” to more than 1,000 other native youth from the U.S., Alaska and Canada. This song and dance was created to support the FIrst Lady’s Campaign to improve the health and lifestyles of our native people. Since childhood obesity rates are so high among native youth, this event inspired my idea for H.E.A.L. I truly believe that in order to be our best, we must first feel our best! So please join me in promoting healthier eating habits and in making exercise a habit in our daily lives, because like Beyonce says in “Move Your Body,” “...a little sweat ain’t never hurt nobody!” Together, we can make a difference and we can work to HEAL our Indian Country!

         Once again, it is my honor to serve my tribe as your Junior Miss Lumbee! I do have one request from my people. Please pray for the safety and protection for me and my other ambassador sisters, as well as those helping us as we embark on a journey that will hopefully make you proud & truly change our lives forever!

Serving you proudly,

Ciena Raine Fedor

Junior Miss Lumbee 2012-2013