Jana Schmieding facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jana Schmieding
Schmieding in 2022
Nationality	Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Occupation	Comedian, actor, podcaster, writer
Years active	2017–present
Notable work	Rutherford Falls, Reservation Dogs

Jana Schmieding is a Native American comedian, actor, podcaster, and writer. She is a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota people. She is famous for her work as a writer and actor on the TV show Rutherford Falls and for her role in Reservation Dogs. She also hosted a podcast called Woman of Size.

Early Life and Background

Jana Schmieding is a Lakota woman who grew up in Canby, Oregon. She has said that she was raised with many traditional Lakota customs.

Growing up in a town that was mostly white, Schmieding sometimes faced unfair treatment because of her background. She often had to teach her own teachers about Native American culture. She says her mother taught her to be strong and to stand up for herself and her people.

From a young age, Schmieding loved comedy. She and her friends would make funny videos with camcorders. She also enjoyed drawing funny pictures.

Her Native Heritage

Schmieding's people, the Lakota, are from the Cheyenne River area in the Great Plains. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is made up of four groups from the Lakota Nation: the Mnicoujou, Itazipco (or Sans Arc), Sihasapa (or Black Foot), and Oohenumpa (or Two Kettles). Their reservation is one of the largest in the United States.

Education

In 2005, Schmieding graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in theater arts. In college, she was a leader in many student groups. She was a co-director of the Multicultural Center and a member of the Native American Student Union.

Through this work, she learned to collaborate with students from many different cultural backgrounds. She also became an activist, planning events and speaking out on important issues. Schmieding says her time in college helped her discover her passion for activism.

She also acted in plays at the university, including the musical Chicago and a play called Wild Nights.

Career Path

Life After College

After graduating, Schmieding moved to New York City to become an actor. To support herself, she worked as a teacher for ten years. In the evenings, she performed comedy with a group called the Magnet Theater.

In 2016, Schmieding moved to Los Angeles. There, she began to focus more on writing instead of acting. From 2017 to 2019, she hosted the podcast "Woman of Size," where she and her guests talked about their experiences with body size.

Starring in Rutherford Falls

After writing for three years, Schmieding was hired for the TV show Rutherford Falls. The show is a comedy about the relationships between people in a small town and a nearby Indian reservation. The show's co-creator, Sierra Teller Ornelas, hired Schmieding after being a guest on her podcast.

Soon, it was announced that Schmieding would not only write for the show but also star in it with actor Ed Helms. She was happy that the show featured a modern Native American woman, not just a character from the past.

Rutherford Falls was released in April 2021. Critics loved Schmieding's performance. One reviewer called her a "breakout performer." Another called her the show's "breakout star" and said she was "a natural." The show was renewed for a second season, which came out in June 2022.

The show explored important topics like American history, race, and justice. Schmieding and the show's creator worked to highlight these issues and give more opportunities to Indigenous actors.

Other Projects

Schmieding has worked on other projects as well. She appears in the TV series Reservation Dogs as Bev, a clinic receptionist.

She also co-hosts a podcast called Sage-Based Wisdom with fellow comedian Brian Bahe.

Filmography