Artist Eddie Melendrez of Ontario attended the 2026 Wadatika Reservation Day Powwow at the Harney County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 10, and painted a portrait of queen Amaya Garcia. “What inspired me to bring this painting to the Burns Paiute Tribe Community was to honor the culture and history of the first peoples in the region. Through resilience and community, I wanted to represent that with this painting. How the beauty and culture continue through storytelling, dance and art.” said Melendrez.

Melendrez attended the powwow as an informational vendor for the Oregon Food Bank. Prior to this portrait, members of the Burns Paiute Tribe attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the new Ontario Food Bank on July 16.

Melendrez is a Chicano painter. He uses acrylics to paint on canvases and wooden boards, his work described as ‘bold and decisive.’ Melendrez enjoys painting members of his community, stating “I capture moments whenever I can.”