Elliana is a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and also of Mexican American descent. All her life Elliana has been passionate about creating art and attempting new techniques and involved herself with her school's athletics and other organizations, striving to broaden her skills and create connections. Elliana graduated from Omaha Central High School in the Spring of 2024.

A note from the artist, “When creating this piece, I struggled a lot with what I thought represented family in the Indigenous community. There was a lot I had in mind, but the few sketches I created did not feel quite as powerful and moving as I wanted it to be.  After taking a step back and analyzing my own family, I realized one of the pillars of a native family is the grandmother. The grandmother is the one who created the family, and overall keeps them bonded through her wisdom and care. Therefore, I chose to illustrate a grandmother covering a child in a blanket. In our culture, gifting of a blanket is a special event. Only done when you have contributed to the community, ceremonies, birth/death, and great achievements. From what I have been taught, it also acts as a symbol for safety and warmth. Although my overarching theme was to give nostalgia and remembrance to all grandmothers in native communities, I wanted to reconnect it to Nebraska tribes. Including appliqué and floral designs in the background to represent the Omaha tribe."