Ethel Shields was a granddaughter of Josephita and Joe Sandoval. She was a daughter of Toribio and Dolores S. Sanchez and a sister of Katherine Lewis. She was the mother of eight children, including Charmae Natseway, Judy Shields, and Verda Mae Shields. She began making pottery in 1938 when she learned from her mother. She was known for her figurative pottery as well as traditional Acoma vessels. Her work remains a classic.