Rose Pecos-SunRhodes +
Jared SunRhodes
ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN’S BOOK
Our book is titled “Magpie Woo’uh’ei.” It tells the story of the Northern Arapaho’s pandemic journey through the eyes of a young Native girl. This story was told and written by Rose Pecos-SunRhodes, and ledger artist Jared SunRhodes drew the illustrations. This story highlights key points, including the loss of a grandparent, isolation, vaccinations, and masking. This book was created to engage with people from all walks of life and encourages readers to express their emotions related to the pandemic. Jared’s illustrations portray the timeline of events throughout the pandemic and were completed on ledger paper to represent the history of his people.
Rose Pecos-SunRhodes
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Joe and Carol Pecos, Rose Pecos-SunRhodes is the oldest daughter of seven children. Rose was raised in the Jemez Pueblo by her parents and many relatives. One of whom took a very inspirational role in her life was her maternal grandmother, the late Louisa F. Toledo. Her grandmother played an integral role in her upbringing as a native woman within the tribal lifestyle of Walatowa People. Rose attended public and private schools, graduating from Sandia Prep School. She also was an International Cultural Exchange student, in France, in her senior year of high school. Her college experience includes Institute of American Indian Arts (NM), Macalester College (MN) and the University of Wyoming. Rose holds a BA/Elementary Education degree and teaching certificate and is a first-generation college graduate. She has been married to a Northern Arapaho cowboy, Virgil SunRhodes, for 44 years and has 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. Rose teaches at Wyoming Indian Middle School as a reading interventionist and takes pride in her “Projects” class, teaching students how to sew ribbon skirts and shirts.
In addition to writing a book, Rose is an internationally acclaimed contemporary traditional potter. Forming storytellers, who depict village storytellers from long ago and are portrayed by many pueblo potters, she creates female figures with skirts flared out, serving as a base for her children to sit on. She has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum, Red Earth Art Festival, Eiteljorg Museum, and her work is also featured in permanent exhibits at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, traveling exhibit, “From One Hand to Another” owned by the Eiteljorg Museum and the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.
Jared SunRhodes
Jared SunRhodes has been practicing the art of native ledger drawing for the past 10 years. He is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and lives on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. Ledger drawing has historical origins dating back to 1875 when imprisoned Native Americans drew their experiences of warfare and life on ledger or account books in pencil, ink, or watercolors. It memorialized their deeds and lives as warriors, hunters, and survivors of the time. And now for Jared as he creates his ledger drawings, they memorialize the stories, legends, history of the Arapaho and other native people. Many of his drawings are from age-old stories and legends handed down to him from the elders and traditional tribal historians.
Jared has displayed his work at the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market and at other art shows across the country, receiving numerous ribbons and awards.