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20018

Iconic Cherokee Chief Henry has died

Jon Ostendorff
November 20, 2007 12:31 pm

CHEROKEE – Henry “Chief Henry” Lambert, who became the iconic image of the
Cherokee Indian during five decades posing for photographs with tourists at
his roadside tepee, died Tuesday. He was 72.

Lambert started “chiefing” in 1951 to support his family.

His striking features, flowing headdress and enjoyment of the crowds
brought generations of families back year after year to have their pictures
made with him. He was probably the most photographed man in North Carolina,
with the exception of the Rev. Billy Graham.

His image still appears on postcards sold in Cherokee.

Lambert never denied that the character he created was taken from Hollywood
expectations of what an Indian should look like. He never promised to be
authentic, only entertaining.

“I wouldn't do anything else,” he said in a 1995 interview with the
Associated Press. “Meeting people from all walks of life. Kids. Kids love
seeing an Indian. Every little kid wants to be Pocahontas.”

When visitors asked about authentic Cherokee culture, Lambert would pass
along what he knew and direct them to places like the Museum of the
Cherokee Indian for more.

He sent five of his six children to college with the money he made in the
job he loved. And even though he was not a real chief, he served as an
ambassador to countless visitors.

“He just loved what he did,” Patrick Lambert said. “The reason he did that
is not only because he loved the people and he loved this job, which is
something that we all seek, but also to take care of his family. He was a
good dad to all of us. We will all miss him.”

Lambert got into “chiefing” by accident when he was 16 years old. A gift
shop owner asked him to fill in when his regular chief didn’t show up for
work. Lambert made more that weekend than he did working his construction
job.

So he gave up construction in the summer months and a job with the Cherokee
Indian Police Department and started working the tourist crowds full time.

In 2006, Lambert was featured in the PBS documentary “Indian Country
Diaries.”

Businessman David Wise, who runs two of the shops at Saunooke Village,
where Lambert had his tepee, said the chief singled-handedly brought people
to Cherokee.

“Every summer I would say the two questions that were asked as they were
coming from Gatlinburg over the parkway is number one, where’s the
bathrooms at and, number two, where is Chief Henry,” Wise said.

Visitation is 7-9 p.m. at Crisp Funeral home in Bryson City on Wednesday.
The funeral service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Cherokee Baptist Church with
burial to follow at Henry Lambert Cemetery.

Services are open to the public.