Makayla Omandam

I am a half Dine and Filipino woman. I am attending the University of New Mexico to study Biology and Navajo Language. However, I always make to time to draw. I have been drawing since kindergarten and throughout my life I have learned so much from other artists and experiences. I feel so proud to be able to represent and express who I am in my art very well.

Man on the moon? No! In some Dine stories, the moon is deemed to be a grandmother or to have part of the soul of first woman. During my adolescence, I believed that the moon watched me and every young woman grow and mature. I also believe that the moon is a symbol of change, along with bugs such as moths and beetles. The Dine used to rely on the moon and stars for planting seasons, so I added corn to represent it. Overall, this is my representation of femininity, growth and change; expressed by my culture and history.