Oriel comes from an extended family of Hopi artists. Her grandmother if Joy Navasie (featherwoman) and her sister (who has passed away) is Muriel Navasie, a well-known carver highlighted in the book Kachina Dolls and Carvers by Theda Bassman. Oriel only carves minis, and she has no favorite kachinas, she carves instead a wide variety.