"Mangas Colaradas" the British wannabe

I am Apache Mangas Colaradas ... from Swansea

Charged for having badger paws and eagle wings in his home

Fights case on grounds animal relics are part of lifestyleA WELSH dad is facing trial after transforming himself into an Apache Indian.

Mangas Colaradas—believed originally to have been part of the Davies tribe from Swansea—has appeared in court in the city after being found with illegal badger paws and eagle wings in his home.

The dad-of-six, who has been charged under the Protection of Badgers Act and the Wildlife and Countryside Act, claims the relics are all part of his Apache lifestyle.

The 60-year-old has been living as a Native American for 20 years since getting divorced.

He wears traditional Apache clothes and practises their beliefs—but still lives in a three-bed suburban house.

Appearing before Swansea magistrates today in a ceremonial head dress, tasselled jacket, suede moccasins and a snake’s head necklace, Mangas denied the charges and was released on bail to stand trial in August.

Defending, Anne Griffiths told the court: “My client Mangas is part of a native American Apache tribe.

“He has spent time living in these Apache communities and this is his belief.”

After the hearing Mangas, who has taken the name of a legendary Apache chief, told how he lived like a Native American in Swansea’s Townhill area.

He said: “I dress like this all the time—I’m not just some weekend Indian. I don’t put it on to show off, I put it on because I want to wear it.

“I’m against modern life. Nobody cares about anybody else, nobody cares about Mother Earth.

“The whole point of the Native American lifestyle is that everyone believes in Mother Earth and treats others how you want to be treated.”Already you can see the red flags waving. This "Mangas" is spouting generic New Age pap, which he believes is what all Natives believes. What he isn't saying is anything specific about being Apache.

But maybe he really understands Apache culture? Well, no.In 1997 he went to the US to try and live on a Native American reservation but the US government refused him permission.

He then moved to Spain in 2000 where he lived in a tepee in the mountains and the forest around Torremolinos.

He said: “I prefer being out in the wild, watching the wolves or bats or spiders going by.

“I believe in enjoying life and taking things as they come. I like sitting in wide open spaces, relaxing, being myself and being at one with nature.

“I have the motto Hóka-héy, which means it is a good day to die. I live everyday like it could be my last for we are only on this world for a short time.”

Mangas makes his own tomahawks, bows and arrows and runs snake shows.

Comment:  Is a wannabe from Swansea a Swannabe?

Making tomahawks and bows and arrows, and living in a teepee, are more evidence that "Mangas's" thinking is stereotypical. So his talk of being one with the animals and nature.

His facepaint is probably phony, though I don't know enough about Apache practices to say for sure. But the fringed buckskin shirt and pants with Native designs down the front are definitely phony.

Here's some info on the real Mangas Coloradas:

Mangas ColoradasMangas Coloradas, or Dasoda-hae (“He Just Sits There”) (c.1793–January 18, 1863), was an Apache tribal chief and a member of the Eastern Chiricahua nation, whose homeland stretched west from the Rio Grande to include most of what is present-day southwestern New Mexico. He was the father-in-law of Chief Cochise and is regarded by many historians to be one of the most important native American leaders of the 19th century due to his fighting achievements against Mexicans and Americans. The name Mangas Coloradas is the reception of his Apache nickname Kan-da-zis Tlishishen (“Red Shirt” or “Pink Shirt”) by Mexicans and is Spanish for Red Coloured Sleeves. There are no known photographs of Mangas Coloradas, though one of his sons, Mangus, was photographed and is from time to time mistakenly identified as Mangas Coloradas.Note that the Brit has spelled the Apache's name wrong. Does he know "colorada" isn't just a random collection of letters? That it's Spanish for "red"? I doubt it.

This photo must be of Mangas Coloradas's son Mangus:



No headdress, warpaint, or fringe. No adornment of any kind, really. He isn't trying to look Indian, he is Indian.

Of course the Brit isn't satisfied with being an average Apache. He has to be a great war chief. It's clear his playacting isn't about being a humble Indian who's one with nature. The Brit is trying to appropriate and assume the Apache's mantle of greatness.

Could this clown even pass an elementary test on the Apache? For instance:

1) Who are the principal Apache deities?
3) What are the principal Apache ceremonies?
2) List some common words in the Apache language.

Again, I doubt it.

If that wasn't ridiculous enough, here are the clinchers: his stereotypical Plains headdress and the Lakota phrase "Hoka hey." Neither has anything to do with the Apache.

This wannabe apparently knows little or nothing about Native history. Or about Native life today. Like so many New Age types, he's emulating the Plains Indians he's seen in a million stereotypical images. He wants to be the "noble savage" that exists only in his imagination.

For more on Indian wannabes, see Fur-Trade Reenactors in Photo Exhibit and Wannabes Obscure Real Indians.