competition
Native flavor
Indian Taco Championship returns to downtown Pawhuska BY MIKE ERWIN
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owntown Pawhuska’s National Indian Taco Championship is a Native American-themed festival held annually since 2004. This year’s event is set for Saturday, Oct. 7. The NITC was named Best Food Festival of 2015 by Red Dirt Report. It also received the Oklahoma Conference on Tourism’s 2016 RedBud Award 2016 as the Outstanding Event of the Year. Ramona Horsechief claimed her fifth National Indian Taco title in 2016, upholding her nickname as “The Pawnee Fry Bread Queen” and winning the $1,500 first prize. Debra Lookout of Pawhuska is another past NITC winner with multiple championships. Also last year, the local Osage Sisters entry
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which includes Dana Daylight, Jacque Jones and other friends and family members — received the People’s Choice Award for the fourth time in a row. The People’s Choice honor is determined
by a vote of festival-goers who pay a judging fee that entitles them to purchase discounted samples of Indian tacos from any of the contestant booths. Which ever contestant receives the most tickets is the People’s Choice winner and receives a $1,000 prize. In addition to the featured cooking competition, the event includes Indian Powwow Dancing and a Native Drum Contest. The festival also has a crafts fair and various other vendors, while carnival-like kiddie rides add to the atmosphere. For more information about the National Indian Taco Championship festival and other local events, call the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce at 918-287-1208.
Bartlesville Magazine VISITOR’S GUIDE 2017
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