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 talented Native American comedian, actor, podcaster, and writer. She is a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota people. Jana is well-known for hosting the podcast Woman of Size. She also writes and acts on the TV show Rutherford Falls, and acts in Reservation Dogs.

Jana Schmieding's Early Life

Jana Schmieding is a Lakota woman. She grew up in Canby, Oregon. Jana says her family raised her in traditional Lakota ways.

Canby was mostly a white town. Jana faced unfair treatment as a child. She often taught her teachers about Native culture. She says her mother taught her to be strong and stand up for herself and her people.

Jana loved comedy from a young age. As a kid, she made funny videos with friends using camcorders. She also enjoyed drawing funny pictures.

Her Lakota Background

Jana is a Lakota woman. Her family comes from the Cheyenne River area. This is located in the plains.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is made up of four groups. These groups are part of the larger Lakota Nation. The four groups are the Mnicoujou, Itazipco, Sihasapa, and Oohenumpa. All of these groups speak the Lakota language. Their reservation is very large, covering 1.4 million acres.

College Years and Activism

Jana graduated from the University of Oregon in 2005. She earned a degree in theater arts. During college, Jana was a leader in many student groups.

She helped lead the Multicultural Center. She was also a member of the Native American Student Union. Jana worked with many different cultural groups. She planned events and became an activist. She says her time at the University of Oregon helped her discover a love for activism. She enjoyed working with people of color on public issues.

Jana also performed in theater while in college. She was in the musical Chicago. She also acted in the play Wild Nights, where she played Emily Dickinson.

Her Career Journey

Starting Out in New York and Los Angeles

After college, Schmieding moved to New York City. She wanted to follow her dream of acting. For ten years, she taught middle and high school. In the evenings, she performed improv comedy with Magnet Theater.

In 2016, Jana moved to Los Angeles. There, she worked for a non-profit group focused on education. She also started focusing more on writing. From 2017 to 2019, Jana hosted a podcast called "Woman of Size." On the podcast, she and her guests talked about unfair treatment related to body size.

Starring in Rutherford Falls

After three years of writing, Jana was hired for Rutherford Falls. This is a TV show on Peacock. She was one of 12 writers for the show. The show is about relationships between people in a town and the nearby Indian reservation.

The show's co-creator, Sierra Teller Ornelas (Navajo Nation), hired Jana. Sierra had been a guest on Jana's podcast before. In August 2020, it was announced that Jana would also act in the show. She would star alongside Ed Helms. Jana liked that the show featured a modern Native woman. She felt it was important to show Native people in new ways, not just from the past.

Rutherford Falls first season came out on April 22, 2021. Many early reviews praised Jana's acting. Critics called her a "breakout performer" and a "natural." In July 2021, the show was renewed for a second season. Jana continued as both a writer and actor. The second season started on June 16, 2022.

Jana's role in the show helps her stay true to her roots. She educates people about Native culture. The show talks about important topics like American history, fairness, and social justice. Jana and Sierra Teller Ornelas work together. They bring these issues to Hollywood. They also show more Indigenous actors and culture in the media.

Rutherford Falls was Jana's first professional writing job. Working with other Native writers helped her grow. It also created strong friendships with others who shared similar experiences.

Aunty Chuck Project

Aunty Chuck is a special project for Jana. It is a comedy loosely based on the movie Uncle Buck. Jana wants to bring Native actors and culture into comedy. She also wants to bring comedy to Native audiences. This was one of the first films Jana wrote. She developed it and got support from Sundance Native Labs. It was very well-received there.

Other Acting Roles

Jana also appears in the TV series Reservation Dogs. She plays Bev, who is a clinic receptionist and one of the "aunties."

Filmography