Cache Johnson O'Malley Names New Princess, Brave

On Sunday, April 7, Cache Johnson O’Malley (JOM) held a powwow at the Cache Intermediate School to honor the new princess and brave.

Cache JOM Princess Mikalyn Hoahwah said being named the new princess felt great.

“It feels amazing,” she said. I feel like Jasmine has inspired me, the previous princess. I've wanted this, and I didn't think that I was going to go straight into this, but I'm glad that I am because it's more inspiring and more like it helps me want to do more.”

And one of the things Hoahwah wants to do more of, is representing JOM and breaking out of her shell.

“I want to, like, travel outside of Oklahoma,” she said. “I want everyone to know who I am and what I represent as Comanche and I want to be able to dance and feel free and happy instead of being so scared and anxious about the crowd.”

Cache Brave Joel Cable said it feels good to be the new brave.

“It was a little nerve-wracking walking up there, but overall, it does feel good,” he said.

Cable said he wants to represent his tribe, family and IMNDN.

“Have kids look up to me, you know, just like because I used to look up to the princesses like and like the braves all around,” he said. “I wanted to be like them so I'm really grateful to have this position.”

Cable said it felt good to come out to the powwow.

“Being with my culture, it feels spiritually good, you know, because back then I wasn't really into powwow stuff, and then now coming out here more and more able to get great-great-grandpa's mirror back, and yeah, it just feels good coming back out here,” he said.

In order to receive the titles, Moahwah said they had to raise a penny a vote and make their own fliers.

“And we can raise however much money you want because it's equal. You don't know how much you've raised how much the other person's raised,” she said. “It's pretty cool. I like it because…it's equal.”

Hoahwah said she went to powwows to raise money.

“I went to Rebecca's 18th birthday powwow,” she said. “I danced there, made myself a little jar, went around the powwow, and asked people to donate and if they would be at the powwow; this powwow.”

Cable said he raised over 400 dollars.

Hoahwah said win or lose; she was happy to represent her culture.

Cable said he sometimes sings, but he mostly dances. He also said that anyone who wants to compete for brave or princess should go out and do it.