Indian Comics Irregular #179

Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States had
several good moments and a few bad ones involving Indians. Let's review what
happened.

While preparing for the inaugural parade, the Wyandotte Roosevelt High School
Marching Chiefs received a letter protesting their Indian mascot. They were
going to cover it up until the head of Oklahoma’s Wyandotte Nation gave them his
blessing. My response: The tribe might have a say in using the Wyandotte name,
but not the generic Chiefs name and logo.

In his inaugural address, Obama talked about settling the West and dissolving
the "lines of tribe." Oops. Indians had already settled the West when the
whites arrived, and America's tribes don't want their lines dissolved.

In his benediction, Rev. Joseph Lowery hoped for a time when "yellow will be
mellow" and "the red man can get ahead, man." Oops. "Yellow" as a term for
Asians is considered offensive these days.

Groups from 11 tribes in five states--North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wisconsin,
and Alaska--participated in the parade. The groups included the Crow Nation's
Horse Mounted Unit and the Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers. Obama, who was made an
honorary Crow during his campaign, reportedly waved to the horsemen.

On the terrace of the National Museum of the American Indian, VIPs watched the
inauguration in comfort. "The Indians had the best seats in the house,"
according to one writeup. Between events, people went from floor to floor,
eating, schmoozing, and catching up with friends.

They also viewed an NMAI exhibit titled "A Century Ago...They Came as Sovereign
Leaders." It told how Geronimo, Quanah Parker, and other chiefs traveled to
Washington DC in 1905 for Teddy Roosevelt's inauguration. They asked him for
better treatment and he said no, because he thought Indians should give up their
cultures and assimilate.

The day before the inauguration, LaDonna Harris (Comanche) received a Lifetime
Legacy Award for her decades of work for Indians. The following evening, tribal
leaders attended the 11th American Indian Inaugural Ball. Stars such as Keith
Secola, Gary Farmer, and Joanne Shenandoah entertained the guests, who were
dressed to the nines in tuxedos and evening gowns.

As the new president was sworn in, the White House website rolled over to the
Obama version. Alas, there was no mention of Indians in the long to-do list.
The disabled, the LGBT community, and sportsmen were on the agenda, but not
America's fourth branch of government (federal, state, local, and tribal).

Oh, well. To read all my Obama postings, go to
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/prez08.htm .

Movie News

Besides "Twilight" (ICI #177), a few other fall releases had Native aspects:

* In "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," a band of "Aztec" dogs living in Mexican ruins
counsels the title character.

* In "A Quantum of Solace," a Bolivian strongman tries to overthrow the
indigenous nation's government.

* In Adam Sandler's "Bedtime Stories," Rob Schneider plays a stereotypical
Indian chief.

Meanwhile, the acclaimed "Frozen River"
(http://www.bluecorncomics.com/froznrvr.htm) earned two Academy Award
nominations: Best Actress for Melissa Leo and Best Original Screenplay for
Courtney Hunt. Kudos to Hunt and company for this recognition.

For more on the subject, see http://www.bluecorncomics.com/namovies.htm .

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics