She won first place awards for her contemporary Native American fashion from the Santa Fe Indian Market each year between 1982 and 1987.
[9] In 1977, as part of a community outreach program, the IAIA's fashion show was presented to the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Fe's Women's Division with Ponca as the emcee.
[11] She also taught courses in Fashion Design, where she was known for her stress on patternmaking, tailoring and monitoring the structural integrity of the garments.
It incorporated the use of Native American media, like beadwork and weaving techniques, as well as fiber manipulation, dyeing and design for both two- and three-dimensional works.
[19] Showing her works at the Santa Fe Indian Market, Ponca earned first place ribbons for contemporary design each year between 1982 and 1987.
It was the first organization of cooperation between Native American artists and founding members included Marcus Amerman (Choctaw), RoseMary Diaz (Santa Clara Tewa), Jackie Kee, Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), Char Romero, and Carol Sandoval.
Culture Embodied was held in Albuquerque and the second show corresponded with the annual Santa Fe Indian Market.
[32] After a stint teaching at the University of Las Vegas, Ponca moved to Fairfax, Oklahoma, and has continued to design and exhibit her creations.
Ponca's collection Wedding Clothes of the Earth and Sky People was exhibited at the Osage Tribal Museum in 2013.