Kiowa Name: Haujolegobama (Captured the Enemy's Metal Weapon)

Hometown: Anadarko, OK

Age at Beginning of Reign: 16

Exposition Directors: Tracy Clark Pewo, Luana Whitehorse Clark, Sharon Onco-Komacheet

Attained Position by: Appointment by tribal director

Marisa is the daughter of Sandra Carole (Willis) and Robert William Poolaw Jr. and has three younger brothers: Dane Robert Monroe, Jeffrey Savoie, and Elias Rey. Her paternal grandparents are Robert "Corky" Poolaw and Martha Nell (Kauley) Poolaw, and she is the great-granddaughter of Horace Monroe and Winnie (Chisholm) Poolaw and James Oscar and Jessie Kauley. On the maternal side, her grandparents are Henry Joseph and Caroline (Botone) Willis, her great-grandparents are the late Phillip and Julia Tapedo Mobeadlemah, and her great-great-grandparents are the late John and Minnie (Eagleheart-Topaum) Tapedo. She is the descendent of Kiowa George and Tsomah Poolaw, Tankonkya (Black-Feathered Headdress), Kauanonty (Honking Goose), Migahol (Killed an Enemy of High Rank), and Tenepiabi (Hummingbird). She is also of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Delaware Nation descent.

Marisa has one son, Alexander Lopaka Poolaw, born in April of 2009.

Some of the events and programs Marisa attended as Kiowa Princess included: Ohomah Smoking Ceremony (3/20/99), Outgoing Honor Dance for 1998-1999 Wichita Tribal Princess, Jauna Chaddlesone (Head Lady Dancer, 3/27/99), Kiowa Gourd Clan Pilgrimage (3/28/99), Broken Bow Public Schools American Indian Youth Leadership Conference (3/31/99), Oklahoma Youth Leadership Powwow (4/3/99), Outgoing Honor Dance for 1998-1999 Kiowa Tribal Princess, Toni Lynn Kaulaity, Mountain View Centennial Parade (5/8/99), Benefit for May 3rd Tornado Victims, Kiowa War Mothers Mothers' Day Dance (5/9/99), Kiowa Black Leggins Ceremonials (5/15-16/99), First National Native American Prevention Convention (6/2-4/99), Chief Satanta White Bear Descendants Annual Dance (6/5/99), Charity Jayne Tahsahsahnah Memorial Powwow (6/9/99), Red Earth Festival (6/10-13/99), Association of American Indian Physicians National Native American Youth Initiative (6/19-27/99), Kiowa Gourd Clan Annual (7/2-4/99), Tia-Piah Society of Oklahoma Powwow (7/2-4/99), Otoe-Missouria Tribal Encampment (7/15-18/99), Ohomah Lodge Ceremonials (7/23-25/99), 6th National Conference on Gifted and Talented Education for Native People (7/26-30/99), American Indian Exposition (8/2-7/99), Guest Dancer with Ralph Zotigh Dance Troupe for Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (8/14-15/99), Crow Fair (8/19-23/99), Kiowa Warrior Descendants Dance (9/4-6/99), Kiowa Black Leggins Ceremonials (10/9-10/99), 30th Annual National Native American Education Association Convention (10/17-20/99), Chief Bigbow Memorial Dedication (10/23/99), 2nd Annual Native American Heritage Celebration, Native American Marine Corps Veterans Birthday Celebration (11/6/99), Carnegie Victory Club Veterans' Day Dance (11/11/99), Kiowa-Comanche Cradleboard Show Opening at Gilcrease Museum (12/4/99), Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony (12/7/99), Tulsa Powwow Club Winter Dance (10/19/99), Good Medicine Society New Years Eve Dance (12/31/99), Oklahoma City Powwow Club New Years Dance (1/8/00), Kiowa War Mother's Valentine's Day Dance, Kodaseet Memorial Dance (2/12-13/99), Kiowa Gourd Clan Smoking Ceremony (2/20/00), Anadarko Public Schools Special Education Fundraiser (2/29/00), Kiowa Gourd Clan Benefit Dance (3/4/00), Outgoing Honor Dance for 1999-2000 Comanche Tribal Princess, Ellen Tahhahwah (3/4/00), Oklahoma Indian Youth Leadership Powwow (3/4/00), Reuben Topaum Eagleheart Art Show Opening at Jacobson House (4/5/00), Kiowa Warrior Descendants Dance (3/5/00), Carnegie Wildcat Basketball Fundraiser (3/7/00), Miss Indian Oklahoma City Pageant, Paukei Family Dance (3/11/00), Outgoing Honor Dance for 1999-2000 Cheyenne Tribal Princess, Michelle Kauahquo (3/11/00), Chief Satanta Whitebear Descendants Benefit (3/25/00), Oklahoma City University Spring Powwow (3/25/00), Broken Bow Public Schools American Indian Youth Leadership Council Conference (3/30/00), 2000-2001 Kiowa Princess Election (4/1/00), and numerous other special dances and benefits thoroughout the year.

During her year as Kiowa Princess, Marisa was a sophomore and junior at Anadarko High School and was listed on the Superintendent's Honor Roll, the Oklahoma Indian Honor Society, and the National Honor Society. She played the clarinet in the Anadarko High School "Warrior Pride" Marching and Concert Band and was captain of the Warrior Pride colorguard. She was also a member of the Native American Club, Spanish Club, Future Business Leaders of America, co-captain of the Varsity Academic Team, secretary of the AHS Technology Student Association, and secretary of Student Council. Before her induction into the Kiowa Princess position, she held the title of Native American Marine Corps Veterans Association Princess from 1996-1998.

Marisa enjoyed her year as princess and considered it a great honor to represent the Kiowa people. She is very greatful to those who made her year fun and memorable. Even more so, she gives thanks to the elders who took time out to educate her about the ways of the her people in preparation years before and throughout her reign, including her "chaperone" (grandmother Martha Nell Poolaw) and her "big sister" who urged her to start dancing when she was four years old and her grandmother Caroline Willis for being her Kiowa language coach.

Since her reign ended, Marisa graduated as an Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Academic All-Stater and valedictorian of the Anadarko High School Class of 2001. She studied at Stanford University majoring in Psychology and served as the Stanford American Indian Organization (SAIO) historian, a Creation, Outreach, Respect, and Education (CORE) officer, 2005 Stanford Powwow publicity chair, layout editor for the Stanford American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian newletter Coming Voice, member of the 2002 Viennese Ball Committee (Austria Week Subcommittee), and a volunteer with the 2002 Row Homeless Breakfast program. She has also studied at the University of Science of Arts of Oklahoma where she was named to the USAO Honor Roll and also the University of Oklahoma where she was listed on the Honor Roll in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and participated in the American Indian Student Association.

Exposition Princesses During Marisa's Reign: Donie Grace Pewo (Apache), Kay Kay Franklin (Arapaho), Shelby Howery (Caddo), Michelle Kauahquo (Cheyenne), Ellen Tahhahwah (Comanche), Jennifer Palmer (Ft. Sill Apache), PJ Modlin (Iowa), Marisa Poolaw (Kiowa), Jennifer Standingbear (Osage), Dalynn Alley (Otoe-Missouria), Michelle Rice (Pawnee), Muffin Arkeketa (Ponca), Chalene Toehay standing in for Ni'vy Starr (Sac & Fox), and Melissa Standing (Wichita)

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