The reigning Quapaw Nation princess Emma Lorena McKibben, 16, has been powwow dancing since she could walk and has served as head little girl and head lady in several arenas. She was brought up in the Quapaw culture and has been taught traditions by her family and tribal elders.
A junior at Pawhuska High School, she has maintained a 4.0 since kindergarten. Advanced in both Quapaw and Osage languages, she has taken language classes since early grade school. Along with several academic achievement awards, she received outstanding Osage student in spring 2022 at Pawhuska High School. She enjoys beading, sewing, and dancing jingle. Her future plans are to major in linguistics and pursue a career helping natives revitalize their languages.
Emma is the daughter of Anna McKibben, sister of Jesse, niece of Jesse McKibben, II and Mike and Melany Shawnee. She is the granddaughter of the late, longtime Quapaw chairman Jesse McKibben and his late wife Lorena, great granddaughter of Anna (Quapaw) McKibben (allottee) and great-great granddaughter of Solomon Quapaw (allottee). She also descends from Claremore (Osage), Black Dog (Osage), Blue Jacket (Shawnee), Lone Chief (Pawnee), and Man Chief (Pawnee).
Anna McKibben: Author, August 2022