INDIAN GAMING 2022 HONORS Cast & Crew of TV
Comedy Series
Rutherford Falls on
Peacock
Indian Gaming Association joined IllumiNative honoring case and crew of Peacock’s “Rutherford Falls” comedy series at Indian Gaming 2022. In the photo (L-R) Crystal Echohawk, Illuminative Executive Director, Sierra Teller Ornelas, Series screenwriter and co-creator, Ed Helms, “Nathan” and co-creator, Tai LeClair, actor and series editor, and IGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr.
At the Chairman’s lounge, IGA joined the IllumiNative to honor the cast and crew of Peacock’s “Rutherford Falls” comedy series. Joining the honoring were cast and crew Ed Helms, with acting credits such as “The Office” and the Hangover movie franchise, Sierra Teller Ornelas, Screenwriter and actor Tai LeClair. The series was created by Helms, Michael Schur, and Ornelas and met with tremendous success. In July 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, set to be released on June 16, 2022. Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Steven, Jr. presented the crew with the Chairman’s Leadership Award and said, “This honoring means the world to us. Honoring Rutherford Falls and their work to represent Native America on television represents a great step forward. Advocates like Ed Helms and this crew believe in entertainment that brings a better understanding of Native America.” It is a comedy about two lifelong friends whose relationship is tested when a crisis hits their small town. After the mayor decides to move a statue of Nathan’s ancestor because car drivers keep crashing into it, Nathan begins a quest to save the statue in its place, causing Reagan to juggle loyalty to her friend and her people, the Minishonka Nation. The comedy series also stars prominent Native American actors Michael Greyeyes as Terry Thomas, the CEO of the
Minishonka’s casino, who envisions big things for both Reagan and the success of their Nation, and Jana Schmieding (Cheyenne River Sioux) as Reagan Wells, Nathan’s best friend and a member of the Minishonka Nation, who has dreams of championing the history of her people. Sierra Ornelas, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, shared that Rutherford Falls is inspiring the next generation of Native actors, writers, and producers. Her credits include “Brooklyn Nine-Nine and “Superstore.” She said she welcomed the opportunity to be part of changing perceptions while giving Native actors opportunities. She shared, “We are the original storytellers. The act of storytelling is in our blood, and this is an opportunity in just us doing it on a more extreme level.” About the IGA honoring Ornelas said, ““It was an immense honor to have Rutherford Falls recognized at this year’s IGA conference. We all were absolutely blown away by the entire experience and the warm welcome we were shown. I was also personally so proud to witness the abundance of Native excellence on display at the conference by many Native Nations and their Leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and changemakers.” Helms says he loved how “Rutherford Falls” ties into universal themes, but in a different, unique manner through the cast and writers. He said, “We were originally excited about exploring these themes of how we relate to the stories of our families,” Adding “our personal histories and our cultural histories, and the way we sometimes cling to things
12 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - SPECIAL 2022 TRADESHOW EDITION
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