Dr. Deana Ward among seven Choctaw artists representing tribe at SWAIA

Dr. Deana Ward, a proud Choctaw from Durant, Oklahoma, recently participated in the 2024 Santa Fe Indian Art Market.

Each August, an estimated 100,000 people attend the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) annual Indian Market, the largest juried Native American art show in the world – Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.

This event occurs on and around the central plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It sponsors over one thousand Native artists from more than one hundred tribal communities in North America and Canada. Artists show their latest work and compete for awards in SWAIA’s prestigious judged art competition. Santa Fe’s Indian Market has endured for the past 100 years and generates upwards of 160 million dollars annually in revenues for artists and the community.

Dr. Deana Ward was one of the artists featured in this year’s market.

Ward has been attending the festival as an artist for 15 years.

She had been beading for about three years when she first started entering her work. Though she lacked the experience of most artists at the market, she was determined to be a part of it after visiting as a spectator in 2018.

“I grabbed my daughter, Gabrielle, and we came here. I didn’t enter it; I just wanted to see it,” said Ward. “All it did was wet my appetite to submit an application and see if they accepted me. I was juried in. I didn’t have to wait for an okay. They invited me out the following year, and I’ve been a part of it ever since.”

For other Choctaw artists who dream of entering SWAIA but are afraid their work isn’t “up-to-par” with others who enter the market, Ward has one word of encouragement, “Try.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try any kind of information you get back on, whether you’re accepted or not,” said Ward. “I didn’t think I would get in. It felt like I’d only been beading for three years. It felt like I was going from high school ball to the major leagues.”

But Ward doesn’t regret the choice to enter one bit. She uses the time each year to celebrate.

“My birthday is August 12. My birthday has become less important to me and used to be a big deal,” Ward said with a smile. “This is like my birthday.”

Photo Provided

Lauren Williams and Deana Ward show off new coloring book.

This year, her beaded purse, titled Shohmalali (Reflection), was entered into the SWAIA’s annual competition for Best in Show.

Shohmalali is a one-needle applique, wrap-beaded, picot edging, and 14 kt gold wire work. The back of the purse is English paper piecing, hand and machine sewn. Micro beads from 15/0-13/0, 14 kt gold-plated cones, beaded on brain-tanned smoked deer buckskin, Swarovski spacer beads, antique sequins, and moonstone and hawkeye gemstone beads. The inside of the purse is lined with satin.

The purse features a swan, which, according to Ward, is a part of Choctaw culture, though many are unaware of its significance.

“Swans were really important to our culture. Not a lot of people know that. And I want Choctaws to know that, and I want the world to know that this animal was sacred to us, and I did a project around it.”

Ward grew up in a multi-generational family that spoke fluent Choctaw. She attended Grace Indian Baptist Church as a child and still maintains the traditions modeled for her. Ward raised five children while earning a doctorate in Psychology from Oklahoma State University.
She came to beadwork a little late in life but quickly learned different stitches and how to incorporate Southeastern Native culture into her art.

Ward feels deeply connected to her culture and loves telling Choctaw stories through her work.

“I feel like, when I get to come here [SWAIA] and enter my artwork or put out a booth with my art on it, I’m representing my tribe,” said Ward. “I feel a huge amount of responsibility to make sure that the stories I’m telling are accurate. I do a lot of research. I just want to put us on a pedestal. I feel like I’m a teacher. I’m teaching our culture.”

Ward has won many awards over the years, and her artwork is featured in two permanent exhibits at the Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant.

If you are interested in Dr. Deana Ward’s artwork, she suggests contacting her via social media on Facebook: Deana Dudley Ward or Instagram: deanawardartist.

Ward was among seven Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Artists representing their tribe at the market. Artists J. Dylan Cavin, Karen Clarkson, Yasmine Del Rosario (Cedar Sapling), Candace Shanholtzer and Janie Semple Umpsted were also present.

Photo by Rodolphe Foucher

This beaded purse, titled Shohmalali (Reflection), is one of Deana Ward's art pieces.

Ward and daughter make a coloring book

Dr. Deana Ward and her daughter, Lauren, teamed up to create a coloring book after an opportunity through a grant program presented itself.

The duo created and illustrated the coloring book “Nan Inchwa,” which draws upon their love of Choctaw culture.

According to Ward, “Nan Inchwa” is a coloring and activity book developed for all ages.

The book features traditional and contemporary Choctaw iconography. Some pages are traditional coloring pages, and others ask the artist to develop their own art.

“Many surprises developed as we collaborated in the creative process. We had a lot of fun working on this coloring book together,” said Ward. “Making a book can be fun and scary. We believe this effort made our relationship stronger. The hope is you too will continue to create your own artwork and celebrate Indigenous culture along with us.”

“Nan Inchuwa” can be purchased at the following:

• Ward Books
• Books-a-Million
• Barnes and Noble
• Amazon