After studying at the Los Angeles Academy of Fine Arts and the Christian von Schneidau Art School in the 1920s, Waáno-Gano eventually settled in Los Angeles as a landscape painter in pastel and oil.

[10] His work has been in the collections of Sherman Indian Museum Western Airlines offices, and Gardena High School.

The designer of the Indian Achievement Medal, Waáno-Gano served[5] during World War II in the US Air Force.

He held more than 118 one-man shows and painted 27 murals, including a 6 x 16 foot mural for New Western Air Lines, which was presented on September 1, 1944, at 287 Geary Street, San Francisco, California,[13][14] depicting native American Indian life and holding art exhibitions.

[16][17] A few of Waáno-Gano's honors included the Baltimore Annual, Hermosa Beach, CA Best Picture to Live With Award (1952), CCP Hall of Fame, (Indian Section), California International Flower Show Art Exhibition (Chairman 1958), and Honor Roll of the Greatest Living Indians (1933).