SOME LITTLE KNOWN FACTS:
In the olden days, a Cherokee man would have cut his throat before wearing long hair. He would not like to look like a woman. The practice was, in fact, to shave most of the head, leaving only a small tuft on top so that some feathers, or shells, or artifacts could be affixed (a Cherokee man was not about to give his enemy any more than that!)
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The present Oukah, while growing up in Northeastern Oklahoma, and living in Dallas, Texas since 1959, has never attended anything called a "powwow". Most of such things are put on by white people playing "Cowboy and Ind." games without even the benefit of the cowboys. They are mostly phony, with wrong ideas growing out of bad western movies. The Oukah sneers: "Production by Cecil B. DeMille, dances by Agnes DeMille, costumes by Edith Head!" Of course, most white people don't know the difference, and most redskins don't either, today.
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How do you know if the natives at a "powwow" are authentic -- their costumes, their dances, etc.? The Oukah once said: "If their breechclout is made out of red felt, trimmed in gold rickrack, it ain't authentic!" Well, that's one way.
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Some months ago the Oukah was very much offended by an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, on the television. From the beginning of the series, Walker has been claiming to have some Cherokee blood, and on several episodes they brought in his "grandfather" or some elder figure, the pathetic figure of a sick-looking Sioux (the Sioux are wonderful people, and have a right to look like a Sioux -- Cherokee's don't). Evidently they didn't know that there was a difference between native peoples -- looks, dress, language, for instance. So Oukah asked me to write to Chuck Norris and complain about this, and offer our assistance as advisors on Cherokee matters. Well, the White House and important people all over the world have always acknowledged our letters to them, but not so Walker, Texas Ranger. We never heard a word from them, but we have lately learned that they have started using a talent-agency in Tahlequah, the Cherokee capital city in Oklahoma, to hire their "Cherokee" representatives they are now using on their show. Maybe we did accomplish something.
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A Sioux who lived in Dallas by the name of Fasthorse once said: "I admire the Oukah. He's never sold out!" When I told this to the Oukah he looked pleased, then said: "Or cashed in!" Imagine how much money he could make if he put on a Sioux war bonnet and posed for pictures for the tourists! But, he won't give anyone the chance to say that what he has done has been for himself. His Majesty firmly believes that there should be at least one decent, honest person in this country today.
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