The wooden Indian lives!
7347...@compuserve.com
obscures it are billboards. These large pieces of roadside trash, along
hundreds of miles of I-40 in both New Mexico and Arizona, depict Indian
people as cartoon caricatures with the stereotypical big nose, red
skinned, wearing breach cloths, and brandishing tomahawks.
Travelers are persuaded to "Come and See the Indian Village," as if a
Navajo community holds the same entertainment value as a circus freak
show. Arrowheads and a glimpse of poorly treated Bison, an animal sacred
in Navajo culture, come free with every fill up of a tank of gas. And if
these things are not enough, a wooden "chief" or Indian mannequin placed
in store front windows of pawn shops, curio stores, and "forts," along
with other stuffed animals, stoically stand as if some official Indian
greeter.
Picture and story available at
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/woooden.htm.
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
Charlie Cloud
My friend used to say that it would appear, from the signs you too saw
down south, that the only tribe to survive the genocide would seem to
be the "Authentics;" Everywhere you go, "Authentic Indian this,
Authentic Indian that." A very successful tribe indeed.
Jim Moschner
eye and I wish to comment. I understand all to well what you are saying. I
visit Tennessee and NC several times a year. We have a cabin in the
mountains. I often drive to Cherokee village to buy the roasted peanuts. I
see the same billboards. I see many of the shops on the outskirts of the
reservation are not run nor owned by the Cherokee. I see a man dressed as an
'Indian Chief' ready to get his picture taken with tourists for 5 dollars.
Many are making money off of the Cherokee. How can you make this stop?
lenapelady
Oklahoma, being no dummy, capitalizes on it's "native" heritage, as well as
the wide open spaces, with an advertising campaign focused on the word
"native".....which is very, very flexible, such as "native beauty" with
pictures of a waterfall, etc. etc.
BUT...not far from my house lurked this house billboard with the legend
"native history." The picture: A calvary officer, with his trusty rifle,
staring out.
I will *not recount the extremely poor language this sign aroused in me the
first couple of times I saw it. I've been trying to get others interested
in a letter writing campaign from locals here, but it's like this damned
advertising theme is so ubiquitous that evryone just shrugs. (My little
tidbit apparently did not resteer the ship of state, but I'm not DONE with
it yet. )Watch their TV ads, sometimes you'll see pow wow dancing featured,
sometimes landscapes, etc. etc....they use the term "native" to mean
"anything that exists in OK that we want to use to advertise to get tourists
in."
AND TO HAVE A BILLBOARD SAYING NATIVE HISTORY WITH A &&**&**&*(&*** CALVARY
SOLDIER.
LL, still miffed after all these years
--
"People who are sensible about love are incapable of it."
- Douglas Yates
Phil Darnell
I 40....I hardly notice the granite cut noses of these cartoon indians
glaring at me as I travel along the interstate but what I do know is
this.....the craftsman of the Navajo nation need to move hand made
jewelry.....no tourist and their money, no lively hood....I have seen my
people on cold rainy nites with jewelry boards hawking their wares any way
they can.....they are there to supplement their mere existence....sad but
it's true.....my brother has been in the jewelry business for years and he
can feel the tourist trade fluctuate his income as well as many
others.....sad as it may be to some people these caricatures of us red men
to advertise, to others it means a way of life to bring in those
dollars.....now what I do have issue with is the meager value that these
dealers or shops offer for quality goods Dine craftsman work on be it
jewelry, pottery or sand paintings.....If I do stop and buy items, I rather
it be from indiviuals on the road side, money straight to them and no
middleman....But what do I know about wooden Indians seeing as I have a lawn
jocky out front of my home ..... ; )
"Jim Moschner" <bla...@evansville.net> wrote in message
news:3A88268D...@evansville.net...
Charlie Cloud
Brings to mind the first few chapters of a little book called "The
Monkey Wrench Gang" by Edward Abbey. Hmmmm.
Jim Moschner
the Tennesse/NC 'goods for sale-then it might say Native American Moccasins or a
ceramic bear or something. People are buying these things thinking they are made
by people on the reservation. They are not. The Cherokee are getting ripped off.
btw, I hope your brother does well, I love the sand paintings and jewelry. :-)
Janie
Phil Darnell
NC.....when I was a kid I wanted those Made In Japan tomahawks.....that is a
weird situation the Cherokees have there since all roads lead thru that
bottle neck known as Cherokee.....to show my age, I have been thru there
many times before I 40 was even built and we traveled thru the Smokey Mtn
National Park......Seen all the signs...See Maggie Valley, Blowing Rock and
such.....it is a bit different on the NM and AZ I 40 interstate....no
funnel into a tourist village.....you gotta grab what tourist dollar you can
out there on the open prairie....
"Jim Moschner" <bla...@evansville.net> wrote in message
news:3A8843BE...@evansville.net...
Jim Moschner
put on by the Cherokee called 'Unto These Hills' . It is an outdoor drama about
the Cherokee people from the 1540's - 1838 and the infamous Trail of Tears. Jim
and I will be traveling the west this summer, I'll be sure to visit the Navajo
and buy some beautiful jewelry ;-) Janie
lenapelady
dark nights. LL
--
"People who are sensible about love are incapable of it."
- Douglas Yates
Charlie Cloud <jimamy...@rmi.net> wrote in message > >
Wayne George
me to join their congregation because they saw me as a "rebel".... I
suppose there will always be those who seek the almighty dollar behind
many masks....being an "Indian Chief" is just another mask.
May I be so bold as to ask what part you saw yourself in this
picture(meaning what would be your answer ?) Did you assume this person
was not an "Indian"? or in your eyes he was not an "Indian".
There must be more to your story.....
regards
The Smiling Crow :)
aka....g.w.george
~~~~
Jim Moschner
not sure what it is. What Phil said about the area being a funnel into the
reservation is very true. There is a town called Gatlinburg in Tennessee. This
town is located just before you enter the Smokey Mtns. I drive through Gatlinburg,
through the mountains in order to get to Cherokee. Gatlinburg is a very 'touristy'
place which sells many things including items from Cherokee. Many items are not
authentic though and are not from Cherokee.
I do not understand the situation in Cherokee, perhaps these shops are owned by
the Cherokee, and they hire white workers? How can a person, not Cherokee own a
shop and sell non Cherokee items on a reservation? I was told this was so. I did
not mention the casino. Much of the money made there is not kept on the
reservation. I've also been told that the Casino is not ownded by the Cherokee.
Mind you, I am only going by what someone has told me. A Cherokee who lived there
once.
The 'Indian Chief'? Yes, he was Cherokee (actually there are many chiefs :-) In my
eyes it took nothing away from him at all. One of the chiefs is a wonderful fellow
and I am fond of him. We play jokes on each other. Janie
JRWolf
changes in the public part of the reservation. When I first went there a
little over 12 years ago, the area I visited had no sidewalks, the roadsides
were strewn with trash, and the few stores I visited had plastic tomahawks,
cardboard and rubber drums, feather headdresses, and large pink plastic pig
banks for sale. It is well known that the Cherokee used all of *those*
items for centuries! The main eating establishment I saw was a McDonald's.
I was broken hearted seeing the area. With each visit there were more
changes and more growth. When I was there last summer, there were
sidewalks, clean roads, lots of stores, lots of restaurants, lots of tourist
attractions. I visited their small, but very nice museum (tribal owned and
operated). I saw the school, I attended their annual performance of their
play about the Cherokee history (quite nice).
Now I don't know who owns all the businesses, but I do know that at least
some are NDN owned as I like to meet the proprietors and talk to them about
their artwork. I don't know who owns the casino, but the tribe has
benefited from the growth of the business area and various tribally owned
establishments. Yes, they allow non-Cherokee items to be sold in various
stores (they must be collecting *some* income from that) and I have seen
some misrepresentation of Cherokee life (like the big teepee with the
"Authentic Indian Chief" in full headdress and regalia for tourists to take
their pictures with). In his defense, I never noticed hi saying he was an
authentic *Cherokee* Indian! I don't agree with some of the things I have
seen sold and represented there, but it is not my home. I have no right to
tell them how to live their lives or operate their businesses.
Now I go there to enjoy the countryside and visit friends and look for
creative and beautiful works of art. I am not concerned with what *is*
"authentic" Cherokee artwork because who am I to define what *is* authentic
now. Artists grow in their craft and change their artwork based on the
materials they have to work with. I think it is ludicrous to assume that
*authentic* means it is made of wood, animal skins, and feathers. Some of
it is, some of it isn't. I am just happy to see the quality of life for the
people improving.
JRWolf
"Jim Moschner" <bla...@evansville.net> wrote in message
news:3A893A6F...@evansville.net...
Jim Moschner
am not Cherokee, but my husband is. I am Apache and white. When I said
'authentic' I meant that tourist are buying things that they thought were made
by the Cherokee, when in fact they were not. Oh, they have a Bobs Big Boy there
now. I hardly see those places anymore. I wasn't there 12 years ago, just the
past 5-6 years. Thanks! :-) Janie
JRWolf
You are welcome. I know it is always a difficult struggle seeing growth and
development. It is not always good and not always bad. I think the biggest
problem is finding balance. I liked to see the improvements over the years
in the schools and the roads and utilities and the growth in commerce. But
I always struggled with the plastic trinkets (carnival junk is what I call
it), the McDonald's, the Big Boy, etc. I hated seeing too much of less
positive side of the American culture find its way there. I finally decided
that we must all face those decisions in our lives as we make the choices
that make us weak or make us strong. I hope that those relations can make
the choices that will make them strong, but they are just as fallible as the
rest of us.
The world is changed around us and we must all decide what we will embrace
and what we will reject. Without the European "influence", we might very
well be facing the same decisions. Who can truly say? We would have grown
and changed as a people on our own had we been given that option. Since we
were not, we have a harder road as a people (many individuals have it much,
much harder than I) to overcome that which we lost and find our new selves
in this new world.
I think those of us born into the mainstream society need to make ourselves
available to our relations who might need our help in some way (as I hope
they are available to help us in our areas of need). My heart is in the
right place with good intention, but the circumstances of my birth do not
grant me acceptance with my people. And even though we are 500+ separate
nations, we find that we have been treated as one people by the
circumstances of history. And many on this ng and off of this ng disagree
with me, but I think we can accomplish more as *a* people than we can as
500+ nations. As 500+ nations, there are many like myself on the outside
looking in. As *a* people, we share some common goals (not all, but more
closely related than we might think at first); we have much greater numbers
when we consider the "lost" relations and friends on the outside; we
represent a greater, louder voice. Just my opinion <JR steps down from the
soapbox>.
I hope that we can all find balance, peace, love, and laughter to fill our
days.
JRWolf
"Jim Moschner" <bla...@evansville.net> wrote in message
news:3A894449...@evansville.net...
Phil Darnell
A few years ago, I took my wife to Mesa Verde to see where as the Dine call
them "the Bird People" lived......we set out early on a cool fall morning
wrapped in sweats for the hike down to the Big Palace ruin.....we were the
first to enter and after a rather strenuous climb out we found the morning
had warmed up quite a bit......I went to my jeep, changed into shorts and
put on a head ban that had what you may call an NDN pattern on it to mop the
sweat on my brow.....I was just standing there, relaxing, drinking bottle
water when a very little old woman came up to me and asked if she could take
my picture.....I was rather shocked since "I" was a tourist per say and it
didn't register that now I was part of the scenery....not really thinking I
said, sure, and kind of scooted over towards my new Jeep which I was proud
of....." NO !! Over there by the bush" she instructed and like a dog I
obeyed.....next thing I knew, a whole bus load of senior citizens unload and
began pointing and shooting my picture with their aged instant
cameras.....my wife was laughing so hard that tears were welling in her
eyes.....shell shocked with the attention, I finally focused from all the
flashes and saw that most were leaving for the bus....left were 2 elderly
women and one small man....."Please, can my husband stand by you for a
picture ??" one of the ladies squeaked out.....I looked at her, I looked
into the little man's smiling eyes and I said sure.....the little old man
crept over by my side and stood with his hands crossed in front of him,
blushing like a little school girl..... mind you we were still near that
bush for effects.....just as his wife raised that camera and pushed that
button I reached out and grabbed that old man by the neck and held him like
he was my long lost war buddy.....oh the glee all three shouted and the roar
of laughter and delight from the crowd in the bus was amazing....."A Real
Indian" I could hear murmured from the crowd......my wife was looking at me
now with tears of pride leaking from her eyes....
Somewhere in someone's photo album, there I will be, someone's Wooden
Indian.....We as Indian people are special to many people, we must accept
that.....I had lost some of that feeling being what some of my relatives
call "An Urban Indian" as an engineer in Dallas Fort Worth area...... I
personally laugh at all the caritures along side of the American highways,
the college or baseballs tommahawk chop and any other nonesence...hell I
find myself doing it too...But I know I am above all this petty
stuff....there are plenty of things that bother our nations that none of
these things perpitrate....like diabetes that racks our people.....So when I
stop at these Indian tourist trap selling real or fake trinkets, I wink at
the tribal worker there and we know between ourselves that we share a common
bond no tourist dollar can buy, we are Indians......
Get real folks, I much rather look like one of the red skin caritures than
that of a snaggle toothed, bearded, straw hatted, corn pipe smokin, whiskey
jug toten hillbilly folk plastered all around the hollers that surround that
Cherokee rez there in the Smokey Mountains.....no one asks if those kind of
folk really made those corn cob pipes, moonshine jugs or if all them girls
really wear do daisy duke clothes !! And if you do believe in all that, I
have some armadillo milk here in Texas I'll sell ya !! ; )
Jim Moschner
thar daisy duke clothes'-thought I was hot to trot! LOL!! ;-) Janie (great
story!)
Kerchee
>Phil, you have me laughing so hard! btw, 15 years ago I did to where ' them
>thar daisy duke clothes'-thought I was hot to trot! LOL!! ;-) Janie (great
>story!)
>
And it is true that many of us guys appreciated the asthetic value of the
Daisy Duke look. But really!
"Before I judge a man, I walk a mile in his mocassins. Then if I don't like
him, I am a mile away, and I got his mocassins."
Anuh1
<bla...@evansville.net> writes:
>I often drive to Cherokee village to buy the roasted peanuts.
Don't you know that in that part of the country you are supposed to buy BOILED
peanuts, not roasted ones! ;-D
> I see the same billboards. I see many of the shops on the outskirts of the
>reservation are not run nor owned by the Cherokee.
You can not control what is done off the rez. On the outskirts probably is out
of the boundary. And they can do what they like. Others are friends of the
Chief and can get away with anything.
> I see a man dressed as an
>'Indian Chief' ready to get his picture taken with tourists for 5 dollars.
>Many are making money off of the Cherokee. How can you make this stop?
The several that do that usually are Cherokee. It is a travesty, imo, because
they don't dress in traditional Cherokee dress, but on the other hand, how many
tourists want a picture of themselves with someone dressed in a turban?
Probably not many. But education could change that and this could be part of
the education.
Unfortunately, truly traditional dress would be out of the question. It's
against th law! ;-D
Anuh1
<bla...@evansville.net> writes:
>I do not understand the situation in Cherokee, perhaps these shops are owned
>by the Cherokee, and they hire white workers? How can a person, not Cherokee
>own a shop and sell non Cherokee items on a reservation?
You can do a lot of things on a lot of reservations if you are good friends
with the Chief or council!
Anuh1
<bla...@evansville.net> writes:
>> Get real folks, I much rather look like one of the red skin caritures than
>> that of a snaggle toothed, bearded, straw hatted, corn pipe smokin, whiskey
>> jug toten hillbilly folk plastered all around the hollers that surround
>that
>> Cherokee rez there in the Smokey Mountains.....no one asks if those kind of
>> folk really made those corn cob pipes, moonshine jugs or if all them girls
>> really wear do daisy duke clothes !! And if you do believe in all that, I
>> have some armadillo milk here in Texas I'll sell ya !! ; )
>
Actually, I think you are more likely to find that type in the Ozarks. After
all, the Ozarks are the home of Dogpatch!!!! L'il Abner and all..... ;-D
Anuh1
<JRWolf...@barefootcreations.com> writes:
>I have been going to Cherokee for over 12 years now and I have seen great
>changes in the public part of the reservation. When I first went there a
>little over 12 years ago, the area I visited had no sidewalks, the roadsides
>were strewn with trash, and the few stores I visited had plastic tomahawks,
>cardboard and rubber drums, feather headdresses, and large pink plastic pig
>banks for sale.
I don't know what part of the rez you went to, but I haven't been there in 15
years, and it had sidewalks 15 years ago in most of the tourist areas. And the
museum was there.
At that time, all the plastic tomahawks, tom-toms, spears, etc. were made by
Cherokee people at Cherokee Industries, Inc. Certainly most of the businesses
were at least partly owned by Cherokee people, but in many cases, the actual
majority owners were 1/8 to 1/16 Cherokee and hired a manager who would claim
to be the owner when tourists come in. This was for public relations only.
> I don't know who owns the casino, but the tribe has
>benefited from the growth of the business area and various tribally owned
>establishments.
The tribe is supposed to own the casino. I would like to know who is RUNNING
the casino!
> Yes, they allow non-Cherokee items to be sold in various
>stores (they must be collecting *some* income from that)
profits only.
>and I have seen
>some misrepresentation of Cherokee life (like the big teepee with the
>"Authentic Indian Chief" in full headdress and regalia for tourists to take
>their pictures with).
There used to be more than one of those!!!
> In his defense, I never noticed hi saying he was an
>authentic *Cherokee* Indian!
He probably was. However, the last time I was there I caught a glimpse of a
MicMac friend of mine who was dressed up in one of the smaller towns (not in
Cherokee per se) pretending to be a Cherokee pretending to be a Sioux! ;-D I
think he had a girl friend there.
JRWolf
news:20010216225857...@nso-mi.aol.com...
> In article <bkbi6.275398$iy3.59...@news1.rdc1.tn.home.com>, "JRWolf"
> <JRWolf...@barefootcreations.com> writes:
>
> >I have been going to Cherokee for over 12 years now and I have seen great
> >changes in the public part of the reservation. When I first went there a
> >little over 12 years ago, the area I visited had no sidewalks, the
roadsides
> >were strewn with trash, and the few stores I visited had plastic
tomahawks,
> >cardboard and rubber drums, feather headdresses, and large pink plastic
pig
> >banks for sale.
>
> I don't know what part of the rez you went to, but I haven't been there in
15
> years, and it had sidewalks 15 years ago in most of the tourist areas.
And the
> museum was there.
>
It was my first visit there, so I coudln't tell you exactly what part of the
reservation tourist section it was except it was by a MacDonald's. Sorry on
the museum...I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't there, but that it
improved markedly over the years. I have visited the museum about a half
dozen times now and I hae enjoyed each visit more than the last.
> At that time, all the plastic tomahawks, tom-toms, spears, etc. were made
by
> Cherokee people at Cherokee Industries, Inc. Certainly most of the
businesses
> were at least partly owned by Cherokee people, but in many cases, the
actual
> majority owners were 1/8 to 1/16 Cherokee and hired a manager who would
claim
> to be the owner when tourists come in. This was for public relations
only.
>
I knew the manufacturing business was Cherokee owned and run at that time.
I saw an interview with the Chief at the time on television. Although I
disagreed with the choice of products, his point was the financial
renumeration the tribe received. I believe that as important as education
of the ignorant is, it is detrimental to the Cherokee people to present
tomahawks and drums and big feather headresses and teepees as Cherokee. But
then, that is also why I said it was really not my place to judge since I
had the economic benefit to have been raised in mainstream, off-rez,
society.
> > I don't know who owns the casino, but the tribe has
> >benefited from the growth of the business area and various tribally owned
> >establishments.
>
> The tribe is supposed to own the casino. I would like to know who is
RUNNING
> the casino!
>
I can't really say much about the casino since I have never been in it. I
would hope that the tribe is reaping the benefit of it though.
> > Yes, they allow non-Cherokee items to be sold in various
> >stores (they must be collecting *some* income from that)
>
> profits only.
>
> >and I have seen
> >some misrepresentation of Cherokee life (like the big teepee with the
> >"Authentic Indian Chief" in full headdress and regalia for tourists to
take
> >their pictures with).
>
> There used to be more than one of those!!!
>
:-) Yeah, most likely. As much as it bothered me about the false
representation of the Cherokee some of these tourist traps proffer, I always
did have to laugh at the silly people that would pay good money to have
their picture taken with "a real Indian" on a Cherokee reservation dressed
in what appeared to be Souix regalia and never have a clue! They had (still
have) so many opportunities for educating themselves right there on the
reservation between the museum, the history play, and the books in dozens of
shops.
> > In his defense, I never noticed hi saying he was an
> >authentic *Cherokee* Indian!
>
> He probably was. However, the last time I was there I caught a glimpse of
a
> MicMac friend of mine who was dressed up in one of the smaller towns (not
in
> Cherokee per se) pretending to be a Cherokee pretending to be a Sioux!
;-D I
> think he had a girl friend there.
>
If you ever plan a trip back up there, let me know. I would like to meet
you in person. As I said in a previous post, we try to get up there a few
times each year. This spring I have four pow wows on the calendar already,
so I am not sure if we will make it to Cherokee before summer or fall.
JRWolf
JessicaC
JRWolf <JRWolf...@barefootcreations.com> wrote in message
news:4anj6.291397$iy3.62...@news1.rdc1.tn.home.com...
I've been reading this thread, and I have to confess. My brothers and
I used to go to summer camps in that area and once, when my parents
came to pick us up, we stopped in Cherokee and got our pictures made
with someone in front of a teepee and Sioux regalia, and like you
said, I had no clue this wasn't traditional Cherokee. I was about 8 or
9 and remember being so embarrassed having to stand by this guy and
get the picture made. I don't remember why it bothered me so, but it
did. I had trouble even looking at him, but he was really nice and
probably had a good laugh when we left. We were going to see Unto
These Hills, but we started acting like brats, and my parents were
ready to leave. If I'm ever there with my kids, we'll do things
differently. We also went to a place called Ghost Town in the Sky-
really lame. Got our pictures taken there with the dancing girls.
Jessica
Anuh1
writes:
>I've been reading this thread, and I have to confess. My brothers and
>I used to go to summer camps in that area and once, when my parents
>came to pick us up, we stopped in Cherokee and got our pictures made
>with someone in front of a teepee and Sioux regalia, and like you
>said, I had no clue this wasn't traditional Cherokee. I was about 8 or
>9 and remember being so embarrassed having to stand by this guy and
>get the picture made. I don't remember why it bothered me so, but it
>did. I had trouble even looking at him, but he was really nice and
>probably had a good laugh when we left. We were going to see Unto
>These Hills, but we started acting like brats, and my parents were
>ready to leave. If I'm ever there with my kids, we'll do things
>differently. We also went to a place called Ghost Town in the Sky-
>really lame. Got our pictures taken there with the dancing girls.
I think nearly everyone who has been there has been through those experiences.
Try another trip and this time I'm sure you will enjoy it much more.
Anuh1
<JRWolf...@barefootcreations.com> writes:
>I knew the manufacturing business was Cherokee owned and run at that time.
>I saw an interview with the Chief at the time on television. Although I
>disagreed with the choice of products, his point was the financial
>renumeration the tribe received. I believe that as important as education
>of the ignorant is, it is detrimental to the Cherokee people to present
>tomahawks and drums and big feather headresses and teepees as Cherokee. But
>then, that is also why I said it was really not my place to judge since I
>had the economic benefit to have been raised in mainstream, off-rez,
>society.
I have long disagreed with both the making and sale of JUNK! It doesn't matter
to me whether it is made of good quality materials (leather, glass beads, etc)
or whether it is made of rubber and plastic. I've known many people from many
tribes who justify their JUNK as ART! The people who buy it don't. They are
buying a cheap souvevnir tht they know the kids will lose before they get home.
That is all. But then, I don't have any say there, either.
>I can't really say much about the casino since I have never been in it. I
>would hope that the tribe is reaping the benefit of it though.
I've heard mixed reviews on the good it is doing. Overall, many seem to feel
that it is actually doing more harm than good.
Jim Moschner
there says she wishes it (casino) would go away. You have heard that it does more
harm than good? I would think that they should be making some money from it or
wouldn't they get rid of it? I don't know how these things work on a res. Contract
in keeping the thing there or something? Personally, if I were to buy something
from the res, I would rather it be from someone like Phil's brother. No middle man
so to speak. I buy those boiled peanuts, fruits and veggies from the Cherokee. (at
least I think I am) Everytime I've been to Cherokee, its been really crowded. I
just don't want to see them get ripped off. Janie
Anuh1
<bla...@evansville.net> writes:
>I would think that they should be making some money from it or
>wouldn't they get rid of it?
You ever hearrd the saying "The Buck Stops Here". Harry Truman used it and he
meant it an entirely different way. I'm told that "The Bucks Stops Here" is
literally true at the casino. But this is second hand information passed on by
someone who lives there.
> Everytime I've been to Cherokee, its been really crowded.
>I just don't want to see them get ripped off. Janie
Those who are involved in the tourist trade get the least ripped off. The ones
who are not involved in the tourist trade are the MOST ripped off in the long
run.
Roger Keesee
>'Indian Chief' ready to get his picture taken with tourists for 5
dollars.
>Many are making money off of the Cherokee. How can you make this stop?
I must say, this remark upsets me to know end. WHY?, would you want
this to
stop? He has to be one of the nicest kindest people I have ever met. He
has
been there for years earning a liveing the way he did in the "OLD DAYS"
He
knows his derss isnt true Tsalagi. Any person should know it. His head
dress
is not of excelent quality. But the tourists dont care. So why should
you.
All anyone has to do is TALK to this man and see that he is truly
Tsalagi.
Why would you want him put a stop earning a liveing? Would you rather he
be on assistance of some kind? And to say he is "making money off the
Cherokee" HE IS CHEROKEE, DAMN IT!!!! Getting his picture taken serves
a purpose to the enjoyment of the CUSTOMERS of the REZ. HE even has his
Photo on the cover of "Jet Print Photo, professional photo paper" (God,I
hope he was paid for that.)
The next time you go there, do has I do. Stop, sit, and have a
meaningfull
conversation with this "CHIEF" He wasnt there on my last visit. I've
been
worring ever since. It so makes my visit much more enjoyable to SPEAK to
him.
Jim Moschner
speak of. I know he is Cherokee. I was talking about the whites selling
'Indian' stuff, wanting you to think it is from the Cherokee People, when
the stuff is made in China, and the Cherokee make nothing from it. I felt
they were being ripped off. Yes, this man is one of the nicest, kindest
people I have ever met as well. He also likes to play jokes ;-) Janie
ggull
Jim Moschner wrote in message <3A9E397E...@evansville.net>...
>Hi Roger, maybe you have misunderstood me? :-) I truly adore this man you
>speak of. I know he is Cherokee. I was talking about the whites selling
>'Indian' stuff, wanting you to think it is from the Cherokee People, when
>the stuff is made in China,
I seem to recall there are some very specific requirements for items to be
labelled as "Native American", regardless of who they are sold by. If you
have actual information that these are made in China (or by rich white
ladies in the suburbs, for that matter ;-) and they are being sold as of
Cherokee origin, this is illegal and you could have them prosecuted. I
can't remember where I saw this, maybe my last trip to the Southwest 7 or 8
years ago, more likely the 'legal issues' column in American Indian Art
Magazine, in which case it's probably a federal law.
Jim Moschner
are many such places. In all fairness I see lots of the stores in Gatlinburg
that have signs in the windows saying "these products are made by the Cherokee"
and some signs that say upfront that they are not. It is the smaller places,
mom and pops if you will, that try to pass stuff off. I wont go to those
places. Thanks for the info, I will call these people on it :-) The Cherokee
are dear to me and Im pretty sure they know what is going on. Janie
Anuh1
<kee...@bellatlantic.net> writes:
The problem is that he COULD still make a living if he were to switch to a more
traditional mode of dress for a Cherokee, one of the post-white invasion forms
would do nicely. He would probably make even more, since you don't see these
anywhere anymore, and tourists love things that are different!
He probably isn't there because I heard the tepee burned down! Too bad. He is
a nice man. What has that got to do with the price of beans in Idaho. I've
known some nice whores, too. Doesn't mean that I approve of the way they make
a living. At least, most of the whores I've known are not Cherokee and do not
impact the image of the Cherokee that the tourists get!
Anuh1
>I seem to recall there are some very specific requirements for items to be
>labelled as "Native American", regardless of who they are sold by. If you
>have actual information that these are made in China (or by rich white
>ladies in the suburbs, for that matter ;-) and they are being sold as of
>Cherokee origin, this is illegal and you could have them prosecuted. I
>can't remember where I saw this, maybe my last trip to the Southwest 7 or 8
>years ago, more likely the 'legal issues' column in American Indian Art
>Magazine, in which case it's probably a federal law.
>
It part of the American Indian Arts and Crafts Law. It is a federal law.
However, the way it was written it actually provided less protection from true
NA people than it did for the fakes!!!!