Amanda Ochoa is a Native American artist from the Klamath Tribes and Pasqua Yaqui Tribe who creates beadwork. She was inspired by her family and culture to take up beading at a young age. Her beadwork can take many hours or weeks to complete, depending on the size of the piece. She enjoys the challenge of completing commissions on time and feeling a sense of accomplishment. Her artwork represents and shares her culture through traditional designs at powwows and online. She advises those interested to have patience and enjoy the process of learning beading skills.

1. Featuring Northwest Native Artist Amanda
Ochoa
by Michelle Ochoa
All photos of this presentation are solely owned by the
Artist. No copying or other use is allowed.

2. About the Artist:
“My name is Amanda Ochoa, I'm a mother who gives all
the strength and energy to accomplish my goals.
I'm from Southern Oregon. I have lived in the North
West all of my life, and have traveled all over the
Northwest.
I'am an enrolled member of The Klamath Tribes, and my
family originated from Tuscon Arizona from the Pasqua
Yaqui Tribe, and I'am also Lakota from South Dakota.”

3. "The mission of the Klamath Tribes is to protect, preserve and enhance the
spiritual, cultural and physical values and resources of the Klamath, Modoc
and Yahooskin Peoples by maintaining the customs and heritage of our
ancestors. To establish comprehensive unity by fostering the enhancement
of spiritual and cultural values through a government whose function is to
protect the human and cultural resources, treaty rights, and to provide for the
development and delivery of social and economic opportunities for our
People through effective leadership."

4. How do you describe your art and what
has inspired you?
“ I describe my art form as bead work, as do many other
beaders.
I was inspired to bead at a young age through my culture
and family members
Many others in my family have done bead work at some
point, my sister and I have been the two to keep up
with it.
I have learned to bead both by example and self taught. “

6. What do you enjoy about your art and how
is it shared?
“ I enjoy the challenge of completing my orders
on a timely matter and feeling the
accomplishment.
My artwork has been shared through powwows
and internet resources for cultural gatherings
and celebrations”

8. How does your art represent your culture? What
does your art mean to you ?
“ My artwork represents my culture by the designs
and the fact that its is a traditional art.
It means a lot to me, because not only is it for
enjoyment but I'm also able to take part in my
traditions. “

9. How long does it take? What is the Process
and materials?
“My bead work can take many hours, days, or weeks, all
depending on the size of each piece.
There is actually many details to bead work and every
beader has different materials and ways to complete
there work. I use one needle and thread, pick my
colors and designs, and then stitch through every tiny
bead tightly on to what is called Pellon 70, which is like
a baby cloth type of material. once the bead work is
finished i then stitch on a cardboard back to create a
harder form and thicker piece, that will also make it
more durable. Then i will add on the final touch of a
Leather back, and stitch around the entire piece to
close up and complete the job. “

11. What characteristics are needed to create this kind of
art? What advice would you give to someone else who
would like to learn this kind of art?
“It takes a lots of creativity and patience is the number one
thing, because it is very time consuming.
I would say to always bead for enjoyment and to have fun
with it. And to never be discourage, but to keep going
because piece after piece you will become better and
better, so don't give up.”

13. What message would you like to share with
the audience?
“ I would also like to say that each piece of
bead work is the artist own creations and it is
not acceptable to try to recreate or copy there
artwork. Thank you and I hope you enjoy and
have learned a little more about bead work.”

14. Contact and Source
If you would like to contact the artist to commission
any of her beautiful works of art, she can be found
as a family member listed on our facebook page @
www.facebook.com/econativeelements.

Thanks also to
http://klamathtribes.org/culture.html
Thank you