‘Rutherford Falls’ Co-Creator Sierra Teller Ornelas on breaking down Indigenous stereotypes through humour

In this episode, we’re featuring a conversation with Sierra Teller Ornelas –  co-creator, showrunner and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed, native-centred comedy series Rutherford Falls.Ornelas had written for Superstore, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Selfie and Happy Endings before coming on board with Mike Schur and Ed Helms to bring Rutherford Falls to life, becoming the first Native American showrunner in history.   Speaking to writer/producer Duana Taha at the 2021 festival, Ornelas chatted about the process of creating a sitcom that breaks down Indigenous stereotypes through humour, having one of the largest Indigenous writers rooms on television and how her museum background informed her writing on the show.This conversation was recorded on October 5, 2021.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.The Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society is a not-for-profit cultural organization that operates the internationally acclaimed Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), the year-round programming of the theatres at the VIFF Centre and the online streaming platform, VIFF Connect. See what's playing now.As a nonprofit cultural organization, VIFF relies on community support to help make everything we do possible.  You can show your love of cinema by making a tax-deductible gift to VIFF. goviff.org/donateThis podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.