Sierra Teller Ornelas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sierra Teller Ornelas
Teller Ornelas in 2022
Born	(1981-03-03) March 3, 1981 (age 44) Tucson, Arizona
Nationality	Navajo Nation, American
Education	University of Arizona
Occupation	Television producer • screenwriter
Parents	David Ornelas (father) Barbara Teller Ornelas (mother)

Sierra Nizhoni Teller Ornelas (born March 3, 1981) is a talented Navajo writer and producer. She creates TV shows and movies. Sierra is also a sixth-generation Navajo weaver. She grew up in Tucson, Arizona.

Sierra is one of the people who created the comedy TV show Rutherford Falls. She worked on this show with Ed Helms and Mike Schur. She has also written for popular shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Superstore. Her work helps bring new and important stories to television.

About Sierra Teller Ornelas: Early Life and Education

Sierra Teller Ornelas was born in Tucson, Arizona. She is part of the Navajo Nation. Her family belongs to the Edge Water clan. Her grandfathers were from the Water Flowing Together clan and the Mexican clan.

From a young age, Sierra knew she wanted to write for television. She studied media arts at the University of Arizona. This helped her learn about making films and TV shows.

Sierra's Career Journey: From Museums to TV

After college, Sierra worked for five years. She was a film programmer at the National Museum of the American Indian. This museum is in Washington, D.C..

Sierra is also a skilled Navajo weaver. Her family has been weaving for many generations. The Arizona State Museum asked her to make a documentary film. It was called A Loom with a View: Modern Navajo Weavers. The film showed her mother, Barbara Teller Ornelas, and other family members weaving.

She decided to leave her museum job to follow her dream. She wanted to become a TV writer. Her mother and aunt inspired her. They once wove a huge rug that changed their family's lives.

In 2010, Sierra joined a special writing program. It was for new writers at Disney/ABC Television. After this, she became a staff writer for the show Happy Endings. She helped write a story where a character found out he was part Navajo. Sierra said that comedy can help people talk about difficult topics.

Creating Rutherford Falls: A New Kind of Comedy

Sierra Teller Ornelas, Ed Helms, and Mike Schur created Rutherford Falls. The show first aired on NBC in 2021. As the showrunner, Sierra led the writing team. This team included four other Indigenous writers.

Mike Schur and Ed Helms asked Sierra to join the project. They wanted her creative ideas and Native perspective. Sierra wanted to show Native stories in a new way. She felt that TV often showed Native people in a heavy or wrong way.

Rutherford Falls gave Sierra a chance to break stereotypes. She wanted to show how diverse Native experiences are. The show highlights the human side of Native people.

Sierra used her experience at the Smithsonian museum for the show's plot. She believes Indigenous people were the first storytellers. They also preserved history. The show asks, "What is American history?" and "Who gets left out of these stories?" She wanted the show to be a comedy. This was to avoid showing Native Americans as only perfect or evil.

When it first came out, critics liked the show. They praised its comedy and how it dealt with Indigenous issues. Rutherford Falls was canceled after two seasons in 2022. However, it made history. Sierra Teller Ornelas became the first Indigenous showrunner. It was also the first major TV show with five Indigenous writers.

Other Exciting Projects

After Rutherford Falls ended, Sierra kept creating. She co-wrote a comedy called "City Indians." She worked with two other Native artists, Bobby Wilson and Jackie Keliiaa. Sierra said this show was "a progression of the Native comedy that I really enjoy making." She later sold the pilot episode of "City Indians" to NBC.

Future Plans: More TV Shows

In December 2022, Sierra announced a new show. She is working with Marco Luevanos and Morgan Sackett. It's a comedy called Amigos for NBC. The show is about six Latin friends in Los Angeles. They support each other and explore love and growing up.

In January 2024, Sierra and Jana Schmieding announced their project, Bonnie. This family comedy is about a former backup singer. She leaves her touring life to live on a reservation. There, she wants to be the "cool auntie" and help raise her brother's kids. Sierra wants this show to continue bringing Native American stories to TV.

Sierra Teller Ornelas: TV Shows and Roles

Sierra Teller Ornelas has worked on many TV shows. She has been a writer, producer, and creator.

Images for kids

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  Teller Ornelas in 2022

See also

In Spanish: Sierra Teller Ornelas para niños