A few years ago, we brought you the story of Magan Basque, crowned Miss Cape Breton 2017, and her participation in the Miss Canada Word 2017 event.  That year, she didn’t win, and the crown was given to Cynthia Menard.

But she’s back in the news today because this time, not only did she participated in the Miss Canada United World 2023 contest, she won!  This means that this Mi’kmaq woman from the Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia is going to be Canada’s representative in the Miss United World contest, to be held this September in Texas.

She is the first Indigenous woman in modern-day Canada to represent her country in this contest, though not the first time an Indigenous woman has won a beauty contest, as Ashley Callingbull-Burnham won the Mrs. Universe contest for married women in 2015, also being the first Canadian to win.

While reading her comments on the Miss Canada United World website, where she focuses on her commitment to the Indigenous women in her country, she reminded us of an extraordinary Basque woman, Yolande Betbeze, “the Basque spitfire,” who was named Miss America in 1951, embodying extraordinary beauty, a great intellect, and a huge sense of social commitment.  She was the daughter of a Basque man who was known as the “king of the barbecue” who was in charge of providing all the food for the Democratic Party rallies in Alabama.  Her role in the defense of civil rights in the US was so significant that she even received a letter from President Obama, thanking her for her amazing work.  An excellent role model for Magan Basque.

But many will be asking why we’re talking about her and beauty contests on the blog.  Though her surname should be a dead giveaway.  It’s a reminder fo the fundamental role Basque whalers and cod fishermen had on the eastern coasts of Canada for centuries.

Our regular readers will also realize that Magan Basque is no the first time we’ve covered that surname.  Earlier, we covered the passing of Elsie Basque, another member of the Mi’kmaq nation

The relationship between the Basques and the Indigenous people of what is today eastern Canada has been covered quite extensively on the blog.  Going through the archives, we can start to imagine the close relationship between the the Basques and the Indigenous people of the area, who spoke the Algonquin languages over centuries, eventually leading to a Basque-Algonquian pidgin.

University of Deusto professor Aitor Esteban tells us about all these relationships in an article published in Euskaletxeak, linked below.  The article even covers how, in the northernmost part of New Brunswick, it’s quite common to find the surname Basque among the Mi’kmaq people.

We only wish the best of luck to Magan Basque at the Miss United World competition, which is to be held at the beginning of September in Round Rock, Texas.

We’ll leave you with the reports published in Canada, along with another published in Māori in New Zealand.

Saltwire – 19/5/2026 – Canada

Cape Breton woman makes history as first Indigenous Miss Canada United World

Magan Basque has made history as the first Indigenous winner of the Miss Canada United World pageant. The Eskasoni woman is now ready to use the role to help create historic changes across the country. “I’ve prepared so long for this pageant and I really just want to inspire young Indigenous women,” the 24-year-old said.

(Follow) (Automatic translation)

APTN – 19/5/2023 – Canada

Mi’kmaw woman first Indigenous person crowned Miss Canada United World

A woman from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia has been crowned Miss Canada United World – the first Indigenous woman to win the competition. Magan Kateri Basque,  24, wore an elegant red sequin dress during the pageant to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to honour and spread awareness.

(Follow) (Automatic translation)

Te Ao Maori News – 21/5/2023 – New Zealand

Mi’kmaw woman first Indigenous person crowned Miss Canada United World

A woman from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia has been crowned Miss Canada United World – the first Indigenous woman to win the competition. Magan Kateri Basque,  24, wore an elegant red sequin dress during the pageant to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to honour and spread awareness.

(Follow) (Automatic translation)

Euskaletxeak – 2007 – Euskadi

Aniaq: Mi’kmaq and Basques

I t’s a well-known fact that the Basques were pioneers in whaling and cod fishing in Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence since the early part of the sixteenth century, working the waters before other countries arrived. Champlain himself, forefather of what is now Quebéc, defined us as protagonists in fishing and trade in the area before other nations.Therefore, it is not unrealistic to assume that the first outside contacts with the native peoples in the region came from Basque sailors.

(Follow) (In Spanish)

header photo: Magan Basque from Eskasoni has made history this month by being crowned the first Indigenous winner of the Miss Canada United World award (photo by MISS CANADA UNITED)

 

Last Updated on Dec 3, 2023 by About Basque Country


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