Photo: Amaia Marcos, 2024 UNLV Powwow Prince
Amaia was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her bloodline includes Argentinian, Ecuadorian and Oglala Lakota, from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Her mother is Mercedes Krause, and her grandmother is Barbara Gray Krause of the Tuttle family from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
As a child, Amaia spent summers traveling on the pow wow trails, working in frybread booths with close family relatives. Due to her mother’s teaching job, they lived for a short time in Cairo, Egypt. Her mother was originally from Wisconsin and Black River Falls.
Amaia’s earliest childhood memories, at age four, are of her older sister Paloma in her regalia, dancing old-style jingle in South Dakota. Despite her shyness, dancing was the one place where she felt confident. She described how she quickly retreated back into her shell when the dancing was over.
During our interview, Amaia described herself as living day by day and just happy to take life as it comes. I disagreed and reminded her that her actions speak volumes, especially after learning about her commitment to her studies at the College of Southern Nevada, from which she graduated, and her ongoing education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
We congratulated Amaia on her accomplishments, which led her to become the UNLV Pow Wow Princess for 2024. She speaks highly of her sister, who inspired her. Amaia now carries on her traditions with her custom-designed and made regalia, dancing Old Style Jingle and Contemporary Jingle. She is a member of “NASA,” anacronym for the university’s Native American Student Association.
In her first semester majoring in Medical Imaging Radiography, she now plans to enter the medical field in pediatrics. Amaia expressed that she has faced challenges with weight and health, which led her to start working out. Celebrating her third year of working out 1yr in the gym.
Amaia shares that the journey has its challenges but has felt the reward of consistency, now enjoying the burn and results of her hard work. She plans on promoting healthier lifestyles within the Native community, creating spaces for wellness all around. Her first health yoga event is in July, free to the community, collaborating with Melissa Pasadena for beginner-friendly yoga.
At the bright age of 22, Amaia shows amazing quiet drive and courage to push herself beyond her shy self. We can’t wait to see a follow-up on all the beauty she will bring to the world.
