As an award winning Native American artist, Yonavea started when she participated in her first juried art market, entering a pair of Delaware moccasins in the Bead Work competition at the Red Earth Festival and placed.  

Since then she has continued to place in other Native American art market competitions with moccasins (pucker-toe), beaded belts, beaded jewelry, and Native American cultural items in the Bead Work and/or Diverse Art categories at the Red Earth Festival, South Eastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM), the Artesian Arts Festival, Eiteljorg Indian Art Market, and the Cherokee Art Market.

FAQs ABOUT HER WORK

I am enrolled member of the Caddo Nation and I am also Delaware Nation and Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. For my bead work I use Czech cut beads and my bead work is done on a loom or hand stitched on buckskin using two needle applique stitch or half stitch. I sign and date my work, so you know that it is an original piece made by me. My bead work has several influences ranging from South Eastern, Woodland and I live in Indian Country. 

ART MARKETS AND SHOWS ATTENDED

Red Earth Festival

South Eastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) 

Artesian Arts Festival

Creek Nation Art Market

Greater Tulsa Indian Art Festival

Eiteljorg Indian Art Market 

Santa Fe Indian Market

Cherokee Art Market

AWARDS WON FOR BEAD WORK AND CULTURAL ITEMS

2022- Honorable Mention Beadwork/Quillwork at Santa Fe Indian Market. 3rd place Beadwork/Quillwork Contemporary at Cherokee Art Market.

2021 –Judges Award at Artesian Arts Festival, 1st place Beadwork at Red Earth, 2nd place Beadwork/Quillwork at South Eastern Art Show and Market, and 3rd place Beadwork/Quillwork and the Innovator award (A piece that looks to the future for Native American art, not just what it is now, but what it can be.) at Cherokee Art Market.

2020 – Kathleen Everett Upshaw award at Red Earth, Judges Award at South Eastern Art Show and Market

*This is not a complete list of her awards.