Gabrielle, Aysia, and Bri

Dear Friends, Collectors & Fellow Art Lovers:

Red Earth is just around the next weekend “corner” and we are getting excited, or is that anxious? Lots of planning and gathering still left to do and the clock is ticking down. Have you gone to www.redearth.org for information about the festival and ticket prices? There’s still time for you to do that.

Our participation as exhibitors after eight years away is sort of frightening because I feel like I’m still not up to par with my artistic expectations. I’m excited that Gabrielle will be participating through the Dance arena by virtue of her representing Changing Winds Cultural Society as Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City, along with Aysia Kemble (Junior Miss Indian OKC) and Brianna Chavez (Miss Indian OKC).

As a special offer to you our friends and supporters, we have a coupon you can download and print here.  Bring it when you come by our booth during the Red Earth Festival, and you will receive one free print from a select number of prints in our print bin. Bring a friend and they will receive 25% off any matting and framing from Padilla of San Felipe for any artwork (from any artist) that they purchase at this years’ Festival.

Hope to see you there June 5, 6, and 7 in downtown Oklahoma City, thanks again for being a loyal friend and collector.

Your Friends,

Fernando & Stefani Padilla.

Gabrielle Padilla - Little Miss Indian OKC 2009

Gabrielle Aja Padilla was selected by a distinguished panel of Native American notables as Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City 2009-2010 during the annual competition sponsored by Changing Winds Cultural Society. The selection process involves letters of recommendations, personal interviews, traditional talent, and tribal attire for young girls in three age groups.  A spectacular gala event was held on the campus of Destiny Center in Del City on Friday evening March 27th.

Gabrielle is 8 years old and in the 3rd grade with Home School studies.  She is an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and has cultural heritage traditions with the San Felipe Pueblo and Navajo tribes. She and her family currently attend Bethany First Church of the Nazarene where she participates in Children’s Choir, Caravans, Bible Quiz Team, and performs in drama presentations for the church. In her spare time she loves ceramics, and creating artworks in various mediums and applications. She is very adept at surfing the web, downloading information and images for her projects in Photo Shop. And above all she enjoys playing and watching movies on DVD’s with her little brothers.

She is the daughter of Fernando Padilla, Jr. (San Felipe Pueblo/Navajo) and Stefani Adcock Boyle Padilla (Chickasaw), granddaughter of Marie D. Setalla (Navajo Nation), the late Fernando Padilla, Sr. (San Felipe Pueblo) and the late Alberta J. Adcock (Chickasaw). Her Poppa and Grammy, Richard and Shirley Boyle of Sky Valley, Georgia are extremely proud of their granddaughter as well. She is the Great-Granddaughter of Original Chickasaw Enrollee Inez Thompson.

During the competition presentations Gabrielle won the trophy for Best Tribal Greeting in her age group.  For her introduction greeting she spoke Chickasaw with translation into English for the non-Chickasaws in the audience.  For this, Gabrielle wishes to thank Chickasaw Language Specialist Joann Ellis for her assistance and materials.  Gabrielle also placed first for Best Tribal Dress Description in the Little Miss category.  Gabrielle proudly shared her multi- cultural heritage(s) with the judges and audience by wearing a traditional Pueblo dress, handed down from her sister Sara Padilla, for this part of the competition. Thank you to Elizabeth Padilla for technical advice and assistance. Gabrielle was cheered on by her parents, sister, Elizabeth Padilla, brothers Raphael and Emmanuel, her nephew Angel, and many special friends and acquaintances.

The Changing Winds Cultural Society sponsors the annual Miss Indian, Jr. Miss and Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City Competition since 1992. Shirley Wapskineh adamantly insists that it has never been a beauty pageant; its intent is to show the potential talent of young ladies and girls in their Native American culture & attire. Applicants from around the Oklahoma City metro and communities are invited to participate in several categories pertaining to cultural talents. And upon winning as an Oklahoma City Princess, are required to be the exemplary representative of Native American excellence and grace to events Indian and non-Indian.

We have allowed two of our daughters to take part in this particular event. Sara Don was a contestant twice; coming in Second Runner Up in the Little Miss 1998.

This was Gabrielle’s first time as a Little Miss contestant. She really put a lot of effort into learning her Tribal Greeting in Chickasaw. Since she represents several tribal groups: Chickasaw, San Felipe Pueblo, and Navajo, she’s seems to grasp the differences. Admittedly, we have not attended significant number of Pow-Wow events for our children to understand everything, but they are all drawn to the striking colorfulness, attracted by the enticing music and festive dancing. Even our four year old has been speaking Chickasaw tribal greetings spontaneously.

We want to express our thanks to the entire Committee members of Changing Winds Cultural Society for their devotion to keep the mission intent focused and exciting. We are looking forward to more adventures and opportunities through Gabrielle’s selection as Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City 2009-2010.

Keep your eyes and ears open to more postings of both Fernando and Gabrielle’s appearances and events through this website as we continue to improve the communication avenues for these two gifted individuals.
There is a new business line just for Padilla of San Felipe: (405) 445-7498

Well here we are again one hour sooner than we were yesterday, how did they ever figure that out (Daylight Savings Time)? It was no big deal resetting our clocks at this house, we’ve had to reset our clocks and timers at least four times since we moved into this house, the community of squirrels keep tripping the transformer on top of the utility pole in the neighbors yard.
Speaking of power from on high, today we presented Emmanuel (Manny) for dedication at church this morning. We are so happy as parents for him to receive the special recognition of being one of God’s babies introduced to the body & family of Christ. In three of the last four Sundays our church has put aside the regularly scheduled programs and sermons to have what is being called “spontaneous baptisms” Sundays. In all, over 260 people have accepted the invitation to come forward during the worship time and have either pouring or full immersion baptism, even the senior pastor responded as a candidate for this sacrament. It has truly been a moving experience to witness the emotions and responses of those coming up from the waters.
Be sure to write us a line or two and let us know how you are doing these days, I am in the process of working on some new applications for originals, which I will keep secret until Red Earth 2009.
If you need some art framing please give us a call I would be glad to put the Padilla touch to your particular needs.
There is a new business line just for Padilla of San Felipe: (405) 445-7498

A lot of encouraging news and some sad notes as well. A member of the family in San Felipe Pueblo passed away recently, my aunt Dora Garcia (my Dad’s sister) succumbed to her final bout with cancer. She was the most hospitable and generous person I’ve ever met, always with the warmest greetings for anyone visiting her at home, and plenty of hugs for those whom she hadn’t seen often enough. We will miss her “Oh, hi, you made it, come sit down and have something to eat.” She always had one of the busiest houses’ on feast days, with at least twenty-four settings filling up three tables, you could bet on there being ten more people waiting their turn to eat. Her family has been the epitome of living what is necessary for keeping a family a part of each other’s lives. Psalm 127:3-5a says, “Sons and Daughters are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons and daughters born in one’s youth. Blessed are the parents whose quiver is full of them.” (Padilla translation). Dora’s children and grandchildren were certainly given the best of her love from the day of their births. It was that love that was returned to her in their watch-care over her in the last few years of her life, and the family that constantly stayed by her side (day & night) until the day they let her go. The numbers of family, relatives, friends, acquaintances, doctors and nurses who came to visit during the month of February was astounding. People of prominence & status, class & no class, Indians & non-Indians all made their way to that corner lot southeast of the dance plaza, just a stones throw from the rolling Rio Grande River on the east and the towering Black Mesas on the west, an exodus to once more embrace the one who will never be forgotten as the one who loved others as she loved herself. Our prayers are with Robert Garcia and Family for continued strength, peace, and comfort. To my cousins: Robert Jr. & Family; Vincent & Family; Geraldine & Family; Lambert & Family; Tim & Family; and Pam & Family – We Love You All very much and because we know that your mother’s spirit lives in each one of you we will always thank God for each one of you.

Update! New home phone number (405) 603-3691.