Yonavea works on the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Caring Van which provides preventive health screenings at Native events in Oklahoma. Helping the people who visit the Caring Van for screenings, she says, is the best part of her job. When she is in the office, she keeps the organization’s list serve updated and sends out emails with updates on public health issues and news about community events and meetings. She is a part of the Communication Team which reviews, proofs, and edits the information that is distributed externally. As a member of the Production Team, she assists in ensuring meetings and conferences proceed smoothly.
She received her degree from Oklahoma City University, and professionally, she has worked for advertising agencies, book publishing companies, and printing companies. Throughout her career, she has held positions as art director, print buyer, purchasing manager, and publishing director.
Yonavea is a member of the Caddo (Haisinay) Nation and is also Delaware and Kickapoo. Growing up, she loved dancing at Caddo dances and powwows. As an adult, she learned to sew her own Caddo and Delaware dresses and make moccasins. When her sons wanted to dance, she learned how to make their Straight Dance clothes. A few years later, she started receiving requests to make dance regalia and moccasins for others. Now she attends juried art markets and is an award winning beadwork artist. Her beadwork designs combine contemporary colors with traditional style on the cultural items she creates.
