Sarah Ortegon

Photo by Jim Cricket.

My name is Sarah Ortegon, I was born in Denver, Colorado. I am number 10 in a family of 12 kids. I am enrolled Eastern Shoshone and I am also Northern Arapaho. In 2013 I graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a BA degree in Fine Art. The Denver Art Museum has added my piece titled, “Home is Where the Heart Is” to their collection. I am also in the PBS Film, “The Art of Home”, which will air nationally in November 2019 on PBS.

In 2013 I was also crowned Miss Native American, USA after competing in my first pageant. Soon after I started touring with the Native Pride Dancers, traveling and performing the jingle dress dance in the US and also in Moldova, Europe and Guatemala.

After my year of being Miss Native American, USA I decided to go on an excursion in Alaska through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). I spent two weeks sea kayaking in the Prince William Sound and bush whacking through the Chugach Mountains. This was a life changing experience for me and taught me the importance of our mother Earth. Since then I have become a Wilderness Hiking Instructor for NOLS, leading outdoor excursions for up to 30 days at a time.

I am pursuing my acting career. I was in a play in Denver, CO in February of 2016 titled "Black Elk Speaks". From there, I was cast in a musical "Sitting Bulls Last Waltz", which premiered in Hollywood, California for the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June-July of 2016. I was also cast as an extra and stunt woman in the BBC/NBC miniseries "Jamestown" which filmed in Budapest in August 2016, 2017 and 2018. The miniseries can now be streamed on PBS.

I have a major passion that drives me to use my creative abilities. I give all credit to my parents and to the Native community that supports me. Every opportunity thus far has helped me grow into the individual that I am today.