In 1967, the town of Sheridan, Wyoming held the All-American Indian Days celebration, which included the Miss (Indian) America Pageant. The event was started in order to improve relations between the local Indian community and the town's residents.

The Miss (Indian) America Pageant is open to women of all ages from the United States and Canada. To be eligible, contestants must have a comprehensive knowledge of their people and a dedication to their advancement.

The reigning Miss (Indian) America at the time was Wahleah Lujan, a 20-year-old from Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. Lujan was a talented artist and had represented the United States as a Good Will Ambassador in European countries.