Comanche pottery in Killer Women

The second episode of the new TV series Killer Women, titled Some Men Need Killing, aired Tuesday. It featured Comanche pottery (!) as a plot point.

Texas Ranger Molly Parker is investigating Nan Reed, the wealthy wife of a murder victim. Molly notices some objects on the mantelpiece of Reed's luxurious house. The following scenes ensue:MOLLY PARKER: Is this your collection?

NAN REED: My husband's. He collected Native American artifacts.

[Molly inspects the last object she comes to.]

MOLLY: Comanche?

NAN: Uh, I'm not sure. Something our interior designer helped Clete acquire.

[Molly takes a picture of it.]Next, Molly goes to the office of Jennifer Jennings, the interior designer. Molly shows Jennifer the picture.JENNIFER JENNINGS: Yes, I love this one. Very rare. 1840-ish. Beautiful, isn't it?

MOLLY: Be prettier if it were real.

JENNIFER: Come again?

MOLLY: The vase is fake. It was fired in a kiln, not dried in the sun. I know a fair amount about Comanche pottery. I was obsessed with Comanches as a kid.

JENNIFER: Seeing as your last name is Parker?

MOLLY: Yes, ma'am. My family goes back to Cynthia Ann and the first settlers of west Texas.

JENNIFER: Isn't that interesting?

JENNIFER: The vase is real. I got it from a dealer in Dallas for $35,000.Molly soon reveals the significance of this to a colleague. The real vase was sold at an auction for $31,000 by an anonymous seller who had to be Nan Reed. Reed put a fake vase in its place and used the proceeds to hire a killer.

A few mistakes

These scenes have a few problems. For starters, the pitiful lineup of objects doesn't merit the label "collection." There are only half a dozen or so items.

One is an abbreviated bone breastplate of the type worn by Plains warriors. Another is a furry object with what looks like a buffalo horn. The rest are anonymous pieces of pottery that don't look Native.

I didn't think the Comanche made pottery. I searched and found several sources that agreed:

About Comanche Pottery

By Christie LemanFeatures

Since the Comanche were always on the move searching for buffalo, the tribe never developed much in the way of crafts and artwork, like more settled tribes often did. There are no known remnants of any unique Comanche pottery or basketry.

Before the introduction of the horse the Comanche used dogs pulling sleds to carry their possessions when they moved to a new campsite. Usually these possessions only consisted of the family's tipi and basic necessities. Pottery was very heavy and easily breakable, so it was not practical for such a highly mobile tribe as the Comanche.

Effects

Since Comanche pottery was non-existent and not functional for the tribe, the Comanche used buffalo products to serve much the same purpose as pottery. Instead of using pottery to cook in, the Comanche women stretched out the lining of the buffalo's stomach and cooked in it just like a pot. Buffalo horns were even fashioned into primitive eating utensils. Later, when the Comanche began to trade with the Spanish, they acquired metal pots to cook in.

While traveling so frequently the Comanche needed to store what little they did have in lightweight, unbreakable containers. Bags were often fashioned out of tanned buffalo hides to serve this purpose.female lone ranger inaccuracies

By WhitefeatherKiller Women is about a lone female Texas Ranger. I was not aware of this show until it came on tonight at a friend's home where I am staying.

This episode shows a pot, probably bought at Pier 1, and Lakota quill vest, likely a prop copy.

The Lone Rangeress identifies all the items as "Comanche artifacts" and then goes on to identify the pot as "not an authentic Comanche pottery because it was fired in a kiln."

This sort of thing I see every time Indians are depicted.

The vest is clearly Lakota, that was a stupid call.

But even worse, there is no such thing as Comanche pottery! Comanches did not make pottery at all. There is not a single known example of Comanche pottery. Anyone who knows anything about the various nations knows this.

When Comanches did use pottery they purchased pottery made in the pueblos, trading meat and semi-precious stones for them.

I can't believe yet another remake of the Lone Ranger is getting everything wrong.

Well yes I can believe it.

At least there is no sidekick in this one.And a tweet:Retweeted MaggieBelize (@MaggieBelize):

"Comanche pottery"? The Comanche didn't make pottery. Why am I watching this show?? #KillerWomenLet's clear up a few mistakes in Whitefeather's posting. Killer Women is just a cop show about a Texas Ranger, not a remake of The Lone Ranger. The wife called the collection "Native American artifacts"; she didn't say they were all Comanche. I'm pretty sure the "quill vest" is actually a bone breastplate--or half of one, at least. It looked more like a large necklace than a full breastplate.

The pottery problem

The vase does look as if it was bought at Pier 1, but let's ignore that.

I don't know if the Comanche literally never made a piece of pottery. Even if that's true, the show said the piece was a rare one from 1840. I could imagine that one or two examples of Comanche pottery exist. And that the rare but unattractive items would be worth around $35,000.

I'd say a bigger problem is Molly's expertise. Even if she obsessed about the Comanche, how would she know about Comanche pottery, a field that doesn't exist? It would be an incredible coincidence if two or three Comanche pieces happened to exist and Molly happened to study those exact pieces.

The writers could've rectified this problem along the lines Whitefeather suggested. The Comanche obtained the vase through trade with or theft from a New Mexican pueblo. Molly was obsessed with all the Indians of the Southwest and learned about the much more common Pueblo pottery. She identified the vase as a fake the same way.

The stereotype here is that every tribe made pottery. No, many tribes didn't. It's a shame the writers couldn't get this bit of Native lore right, since it would've been easy.

One other note: Molly says her family goes back to Cynthia Ann Parker. Parker was a white woman captured by the Comanche who stayed with the tribe. She gave birth to three children, including the famous Quanah Parker.

Molly doesn't explicitly say she's a direct descendant of Cynthia Ann, but she implies it. If true, that would mean she's part Comanche. That's plausible. A lot of people have a little Indian blood--especially if their families have lived in Indian country a long time.

Empire of the Summer Moon's accuracy

Did The Lone Ranger movie ignore the atrocities committed by Comanche Indians? Yes, according to an article in the UK's sensationalist Daily Mail.

These claims seem to be based on the acclaimed Empire of the Summer Moon, so let's examine this book.

People have raved about Empire of the Summer Moon since it came out in 2011. Among other honors, it was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.

Here's how Amazon describes it:In the tradition of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a stunningly vivid historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West, centering on Quanah, the greatest Comanche chief of them all.

S. C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.

Although readers may be more familiar with the tribal names Apache and Sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the Comanches that determined just how and when the American West opened up. Comanche boys became adept bareback riders by age six; full Comanche braves were considered the best horsemen who ever rode. They were so masterful at war and so skillful with their arrows and lances that they stopped the northern drive of colonial Spain from Mexico and halted the French expansion westward from Louisiana. White settlers arriving in Texas from the eastern United States were surprised to find the frontier being rolled backward by Comanches incensed by the invasion of their tribal lands. So effective were the Comanches that they forced the creation of the Texas Rangers and account for the advent of the new weapon specifically designed to fight them: the six-gun.

The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads—a historical feast for anyone interested in how the United States came into being.

Against this backdrop Gwynne presents the compelling drama of Cynthia Ann Parker, a lovely nine-year-old girl with cornflower-blue eyes who was kidnapped by Comanches from the far Texas frontier in 1836. She grew to love her captors and became infamous as the "White Squaw" who refused to return until her tragic capture by Texas Rangers in 1860. More famous still was her son Quanah, a warrior who was never defeated and whose guerrilla wars in the Texas Panhandle made him a legend.

S. C. Gwynne’s account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative, and, above all, thrillingly told. Empire of the Summer Moon announces him as a major new writer of American history.Although this blurb probably came from the publisher, many of the reviews were just as glowing. For instance:

"Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History" by S. C. Gwynne

"Demonic state of mind"

What about Empire of the Summer Moon's take on Comanche atrocities? One review claims the book is pro-Indian:

Empire of the Summer Moon-A Book Review

By Melanie MagdalenaGwynne attempts to retell the Comanche story objectively but shows off his liberal perspective. Gwynne constantly explains different actions committed by the Comanches: how Comanches acted and why they did so and their cultural values. Gwynne also emphasizes that Americans did not want to accept the Plains Indians for who they were and insisted upon killing them all even though the Indians were there first. Gwynne is pro-Indian from the start of the story to the end.

Gwynne confronts the question of moral judgment. He acknowledges they were governed by a sort of demonic state of mind: gang raping of women captives, the scalping of enemies, and other “horrors” the white population was completely against. He also acknowledges that the white people were who invaded the Plains Indians native territory. “The Comanches and Kiowas were to share a 2.9-million-acre reservation […] it was but a tiny fraction of Comancheria, which at its peak held nearly 200 million acres” (230). Whites were convinced that everyone should want to be part of American culture, live in confined spaces, and believe in the concept of private property. The Plains Indians only wanted to roam free and hunt buffalo, plus kill off the other Indians since they had always been enemies. If the white population had not invaded the Plains because of Manifest Destiny, the Indians would have been very happy living in only that area.

Gwynne uses Empire of the Summer Moon to explain his thesis that morality is subjective to culture. For the Comanche and other Plains Indians, scalping and gang raping was perfectly normal: “There was the shrieking panic of the Indian attack, the uncomprehending horror
of the moment her mother, Lucy, set her on the warrior’s horse, her father’s own bloody death, the astonishing sight of her cousin and aunt being raped and abused” (37). This is, possibly, what was going through Cynthia Ann’s mind when she was captured. For the white men, killing off natives on land they want was perfectly normal. He attempts to find a balance and concludes causing death is not acceptable regardless of customs.Saying the Comanche were "governed by a sort of demonic state of mind" doesn't sound pro-Indian to me. It sounds more like the typical "savage" stereotype we've seen a million times.

Another review isn't impressed with Empire of the Summer Moon's sources:

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

By Ed BakerEmpire of the Summer Moon is really two books: an awkwardly romanticized account of the Anglo and Native branches of the Parker family tree, grafted onto some even more wispy strands of Comanche social history.

Even if you take the spotty and secondhand historical sources (sometimes culled from yellowed and racist early 20th century books with titles like History of the Manifest Destiny) as gospel fact, Gwynne gives insufficient reason to conclude that the Comanche tribe formed an empire.Empire = "dime store novel"

Finally, another Amazon review is worth quoting:

As sensational as a dime store novel and just as accurate..., July 7, 2011

By SAMisterioAnyone looking for balanced, well researched portrait of 18th century life on the southern plains should pass on this one. If you're looking for grandiose fiction in the best traditions of the dime store novel, then look no further. Mr. Gwynne is clearly not one to let the truth get in the way of a good story.

What immediately struck me about this book and even made me chuckle out loud several times throughout was Mr. Gwynne's grandiose claims on behalf of the Comanche and his excessive use of superlatives. The book is overflowing with words like "the most," "the greatest," etc. with little or no historical fact to back them up. "The most influential tribe in American history" might be a stretch when even your average American college history major couldn't name a single Comanche war chief (while your average 5th grader can tell you who Sitting Bull and Squanto were). The San Saba massacre was the greatest military setback the Spaniards suffered in the New World!? With 8 Spanish lives lost, Mr. Gwynne, San Saba is barely a footnote in the long history of royal New World thrashings the Spanish received at the hands of various enemies. The list of over-inflated claims and historical inaccuracies goes on and on. One can hardly go more than a few pages without some insignificant Comanche raid reputedly changing the course of human history.

I am by no means trying to diminish the role the Comanches played in the history of the west. The Comanches were truly one of history's great raider cultures and their martial prowess spoke for itself. However, martial prowess alone does not an empire make. In fact the concept of 'empire' in the Anglo-American sense was completely alien to the Plains Indian. By painting the Comanche nation as something that it was not, Mr. Gwynne does a great disservice to the rich Plains Indian culture and the true story of the Comanches.

This brings me to my final point in critiquing this laughable piece of "non-fiction." Mr. Gwynne graphically portrays the atrocities committed by the Comanches which is not a problem in and of itself. Most modern historians have moved away from the portrayal of Native Americans as barbarous heathens. They have also rejected the apologist myth of the noble savage in favor of a more culturally and historically relativistic view of Native Americans that includes unflattering accounts of the extreme brutality of Native American warfare. Mr. Gwynne, however, takes a much more outmoded approach when describing Comanche violence. Mr. Gwynne asserts that Native Americans were caught in a kind of cultural developmental time warp as a result of their late migration across the Bering Strait. Mr. Gwynne claims that Native Americans lacked the morally civilizing benefits of Christ, Martin Luther, etc. As a result, Mr. Gwynne paints a picture of a backward, morally bereft, ultra-violent society with virtually no culturally redeeming qualities other than military proficiency. At best Mr. Gwynne's views on the Comanches are uninformed, outdated, and culturally biased. At worst...well, let's just give Mr. Gwynne the benefit of the doubt and assume his simplistic approach to Native American culture in this melodramatic and wildly inaccurate tale is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader. For my part, I'll stick to Sergio Leone for a fantasy version of the old west.I'm not sure anyone except an expert could judge Empire of the Summer Moon even after reading it. Fortunately, my point isn't to reach a conclusion about the book, but to question it.

In other words, we shouldn't accept the book itself or the glowing praise it's received as proof of the Comanches' alleged atrocities. How many reports of atrocities came from white men trying to paint the Indians as ruthless killers? How many came from neutral sources with no vested interest in winning the Indian wars?

How many people did the Comanches really kill...thousands? How does that compare to the 620,000 Americans killed during the Civil War? Would it be fair to say white men were and are a hundred or a thousand times more "demonic" based on their respective death tolls?

Questions such as these need asking. I'm not sure the book asked them, and the Daily Mail didn't ask them in its "savage Indian" screed. So I'm asking them here.

For more on the Comanche, see Shawnee Professor Justifies Tonto's Stereotypes and Radio Marathon for Comanche Codetalkers.

Lone Ranger ignores Comanche atrocities

The truth Johnny Depp wants to hide about the real-life Tontos: How Comanche Indians butchered babies, roasted enemies alive and would ride 1,000 miles to wipe out one family

Comanche Indians were responsible for one of the most brutal slaughters in the history of the Wild West

However, Johnny Depp wants to play Tonto in a more sympathetic light

By Jonathan ForemanS C Gwynne, author of Empire Of The Summer Moon about the rise and fall of the Comanche, says simply: ‘No tribe in the history of the Spanish, French, Mexican, Texan, and American occupations of this land had ever caused so much havoc and death. None was even a close second.’

He refers to the ‘demonic immorality’ of Comanche attacks on white settlers, the way in which torture, killings and gang-rapes were routine. ‘The logic of Comanche raids was straightforward,’ he explains.

‘All the men were killed, and any men who were captured alive were tortured; the captive women were gang raped. Babies were invariably killed.’

Not that you would know this from the new Lone Ranger movie, starring Johnny Depp as the Indian Tonto.

For reasons best know to themselves, the film-makers have changed Tonto’s tribe to Comanche—in the original TV version, he was a member of the comparatively peace-loving Potawatomi tribe.

And yet he and his fellow native Americans are presented in the film as saintly victims of a Old West where it is the white settlers—the men who built America—who represent nothing but exploitation, brutality, environmental destruction and genocide.

Depp has said he wanted to play Tonto in order to portray Native Americans in a more sympathetic light. But the Comanche never showed sympathy themselves.Foreman's conclusion:By casting the cruelest, most aggressive tribe of Indians as mere saps and victims of oppression, Johnny Depp’s Lone Ranger perpetuates the patronising and ignorant cartoon of the ‘noble savage’.

Not only is it a travesty of the truth, it does no favours to the Indians Depp is so keen to support.From what I've read, The Lone Ranger does indeed sanitize its Comanches to the point of blandness.

The movie probably is doing Indians a favor by not portraying the Comanches as "the cruelest, most aggressive tribe." We don't need the umpteenth flick featuring Indians as merciless savages.

But Depp and company had a range of options between portraying Indians as saintly victims and merciless savages. The best choice might've been to make Tonto something other than a Comanche.

"Fierce" tribes get attention

This article raises a valid point that I hadn't thought about enough. The Comanches weren't just your average tribe. They had one of the "worst" reputations for ferocity.

It's one reason I've said storytellers should stop relying on the same old tribes: the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Apache. Start showing the range of tribal cultures, not just the most warlike cases. Focusing on these tribes makes all Indians look bad, since everyone thinks all Indians were and are the same.

If you're going to pick the Comanches, make them historically accurate--atrocities and all. If you don't want a tribe guilty of atrocities, don't pick the Comanches. Whatever you do, don't portray the tribe as The Lone Ranger did: as a generic set of Plains Indians.

For more on the savage Indian stereotype, see Aide Calls Indians "Arrow Throwers" and Indians in The Lost Colony.

Below:  "Real-life: White Wolf, a Comanche Chief, pictured in the late 19th century."

Shawnee professor justifies Tonto's stereotypes

Here's an article that's been reprinted a few placed. Because it purports to be culturally accurate, it's worth going through line by line.

History vs. Hollywood: Does 'The Lone Ranger' Accurately Represent Native Americans?

UC Professor and Native American expert Ken Tankersley offers his take on Tonto in the new Disney movie.

By Allison StiglerThe Lone Ranger and his trusty Native American sidekick Tonto are racing across film screens this week. Starring Johnny Depp, the movie adaptation of the old TV and radio shows is a box office hit, but does the film accurately portray American Indians?

Actually, yes. Several details in the movie realistically captured Native American customs, traditions and dress, according to University of Cincinnati's Native American expert Kenneth Tankersley, a Piqua Shawnee and an anthropology professor for the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.Whatever a Piqua Shawnee is, it's not a federally recognized tribe. Not that it necessarily matters, but it makes you wonder.

Oh, here it is:

Welcome to the home of the Piqua ShawneeWelcome to the Piqua Shawnee website. Our tribe has approximately 300 members, and is a recognized tribe by the State of Alabama.So Tankersley is an Alabama "Indian" who works in Ohio? He's about as far removed from Tonto's Comanches as I am, and about as qualified to talk about them.

Back to the article:After watching the film during its opening week, he declared the movie to be a “quantum leap” over other many previous film and television depictions. “They did a really good job.”

Tankersley noted that, although not a “card carrying” member of a Native American tribe, Depp does have Native American ancestry. “He is from Kentucky and Melungeon by ancestry.

“Melungeons were Sephardic Jews and Muslims, escaping to religious freedom in the New World. When they arrived, they married into the Native American community.”Did Tankersley study Depp's family tree and find a Melungeon ancestor? Being from Kentucky doesn't necessarily mean Depp is Melungeon, much less Native.To prepare for the role, Depp immersed himself in the Native American culture. He listened to stories from descendants of Quanah Parker, a dominant figure in the Comanche tribe, and was adopted into the tribe by LA Donna Harris, a Comanche social activist.That's the first we've heard of Depp's reading about Quanah Parker. If it's true, it doesn't show in his performance, according to all the reports.

It's LaDonna, not "LA Donna." She adopted Depp into her family, not the tribe. And being adopted after the movie was done doesn't make Tonto any more authentic.With the exception of Tonto speaking pidgin English, the film employed authentic Native American details, many of which could be missed by the casual viewer, Tankersley said. Below are some he noticed. (Warning: spoilers ahead!)With the exception of perhaps the biggest flaw, Depp's portrayal isn't flawed? Wow, thanks for that unqualified endorsement.

Professor gets schooled

Let's examine Tankersley's claims one by one:Tonto drops corn on the ground and appears to feed it to the dead raven he uses as a headdress. Tankersley said this is actually a blessing, because corn is sacred.Did the movie explicitly call the act a blessing? Did it call the foodstuff corn? Because every review that mentioned the foodstuff labeled it birdseed, not corn.The raven is a symbolic messenger in both Native American culture and the film to signify impending events. Tonto’s raven headdress comes from a painting Depp saw that depicted a warrior.Weak reference to "Native American culture," not Comanche culture. Not true of many Native cultures. And the headdress came from a white man's fantasy painting, which means it's false and stereotypical.A few Native American practices were borrowed from other tribes including the windigo, an evil cannibal spirit that is the villain in the movie. The windigo comes from Algonquian mythology, rather than the Comanche tribe."Borrowed" = stupidly and wrongly misappropriated. Mixing of Native cultures = false and stereotypical because it implies all Natives are the same.

To give you an idea how far off this is, would you borrow centaurs or Medusa for a story about Norse mythology? Greek is to Norse as Algonquian is to Comanche.Tonto frequently calls the Lone Ranger "kemo sabe." The word is from the Potowatomi language and means “friend,” according to Tankersley.Actually, the origin of "kemosabe" is unknown. The best guess is that it comes from a camp's name that may or may not be a corruption of an Ojibwe word.

In the old Lone Ranger series, what did "kemosabe" mean?

And we should give the movie credit for repeating a 75-year-old concept from the original radio show? Big freakin' deal.The Spirit Horse (which the Lone Ranger rides) is white, symbolic of the Spirit of the North Wind, which provides guidance and wisdom of the ancestors.Why would the Comanche care about some northern wind thousands of miles away? Sounds like more generic Indian nonsense, at best. Since Tankersley didn't even attribute it to generic Indians this time, he may have made it up.Tonto remains in face paint through most of the film. Typically, Native Americans donned the paint only during ceremonies. Because Tonto felt threatened by the windigo through much of the movie, the paint served as a mask to protect him from the evil windigo spirits. The paint does not appear in scenes that took place after the threat was eliminated.More generic Indian nonsense. Not applicable to Tonto since he's supposed to be Comanche, not Algonquian. And did the movie state this, or is Tankersley making it up again, like the "spirit horse"?

Breastplate and feathersTonto’s costume includes a typical Comanche breastplate. Filmmakers took artistic license with its color and composition (they typically were white bone or shell, but Tonto’s is black water buffalo horn).It's a "typical Comanche breastplate" except for its color and composition? What's the typical part? And water buffalo are found only in Asia, not America.Tankersley also noted that the Comanche actors wore real eagle feathers, while the non-Native American characters donned painted turkey feathers, since only Native Americans are permitted to have eagle feathers.Again, did the movie state this? If not, how does he know?

Even if true, it's a trivial detail that no one--not even a Native reviewer--has noticed. That makes it irrelevant.Tankersley hopes the film’s portrayal of Tonto will spur more accurate depictions of Native Americans in future movies and will help Native American children take pride in their heritage.Yes, let's hope future portrayals are better than this false and stereotypical portrayal.

Every one of Tankersley's points is either wrong, misleading, unsubstantiated, or unimportant. If I were grading his review, I'd give it a C or C- at most.

For more on Johnny Depp and Tonto, see Depp Justifies Tonto's Stereotypes and Comanche Chairman Justifies Tonto's Stereotypes.

Depp justifies Tonto's stereotypes

Does Disney's Tonto Reinforce Stereotypes Or Overcome Them?

By Mandalit Del BarcoJohnny Depp, who helped create Tonto's character for the new movie, says he grew up watching reruns of the TV series, which he says was pure entertainment.

"But even at the ripe old age of 5 or 6 or 7, watching that on TV, I had the very distinct feeling that there was something very wrong," he says from a hotel room in Lawton, Okla., before a special screening of the new movie. "Tonto never deserved to be called a sidekick."

Depp wanted to play Tonto as the Lone Ranger's equal partner. "In my own small way, it was my attempt to right the wrongs of what had been done with regards to the representation of Native Americans in cinema."

Tonto is first seen in Disney's new The Lone Ranger on display at a sideshow diorama labeled "noble savage." Depp says the character is meant to be humorous—the Lone Ranger even kids him about the word Tonto meaning "dummy" in Spanish. Depp's Tonto is a deadpan spirit warrior from the Comanche tribe.

The 1950's Jay Silverheels' Tonto was calm and stoic, wore his hair in a braid and donned a headband and a buckskin vest. But Depp's new Tonto is tattooed and shirtless. His face is painted white with black stripes. And on top of his head sits a dead black crow.

"Going against the grain of what had been done before, I knew it would require a very, very important iconic look," says Depp, who says he took it from a painting by artist Kirby Sattler, which he saw on the Internet. "It was a warrior, and at first glance I saw a face split into quarters. I thought, 'Wow! That's a very interesting concept.' Then there was also a bird flying behind the guy's head, the warrior's head, and I thought, 'Wow, that's [an] amazing bird.' Well, he's not on his head, he should be on his head, as an extension of himself, a warrior, his spirit guide."

As I've said before, Johnny Depp "respects" real Indians by fabricating a phony Indian. Nice.

I've ripped into Depp's costume many times--for instance:

Comanche chairman justifies Tonto's stereotypes
Depp's intent doesn't excuse stereotypes
Depp admits Tonto costume's origin
Sources for Depp's crow headdress

But it's comical to hear Depp talk about it in his own words. Tonto's "spirit guide," aka his "animal totem," sounds like it came straight from a New Age ceremony. Or a Y-Indian Guides ceremony. It's a stereotypical notion that doesn't exist in most if not all Indian cultures.

One technical note: The bird is on the Indian's head in the painting, not behind it. A couple of people have speculated about this, but Sattler makes it clear on his website:Johnny Depp as Tonto

The display of face paint design crow feathers and crow headdress in the painting "I AM CROW" is an illustrative interpretation of the inseparable relationship between the Native American and their spiritual and natural world. I purposely do not denote a specific tribal affiliation to my paintings, allowing the personal sensibilities and knowledge of the viewer to create their own stories.

-kirby sattler"Crow headdress in the painting"...case closed on that point.

If the bird were behind the man's head in Sattler's painting, Depp would be even more wrong. It would mean he misunderstood Sattler's fantasy painting and made up the headdress entirely on his own. "I saw something in a white man's painting, but that wasn't fake enough, so I doubled down on the fakery. That's how much I respect Indians!"

So there's still no justification for Tonto's costume. It has nothing to do with Comanches' "bird culture." It's as fake as any white man who has ever put on a Halloween costume and called himself an Indian.

Then there's this:For his part, Depp defends his Tonto, saying he was hoping to turn the stereotype on its head. "It's a very strange notion, but it occurred to me, in a weird way, certain cliches must be embraced for a millisecond, to have the audience understand. Just for that millisecond," Depp says.A millisecond? I think Depp means 2 1/2 hours. He's embraced the phony costume, accent, and "spirit guide" mysticism for the entire movie.

Harris is wrong too

Depp's adoptive "mother" LaDonna Harris isn't any better:

LaDonna Harris defends casting of Johnny Depp over an Indian“There were a lot of complaints that he could’ve been [played by] an Indian, true, but then it wouldn’t have gotten the visibility that Johnny Depp could give it,” Harris told The Washington Post.Well, thanks for giving the ugly mistakes and stereotypes all that visibility, Johnny. How about performing in blackface next to give minstrel shows some much needed visibility?

Visibility is the problem, genius. We don't want a white actor parading his mistaken and stereotypical notions of Indians in front of a billion viewers. Duhhh.

Perhaps facetiously, a Facebook friend said:Hey what if Tonto wears the mask and Lone Ranger wears the crow? Switch it up a little!This movie could subvert the Lone Ranger mythos in several ways. Starting with changing Tonto's name and speech pattern.

And yes, Tonto could be the one who had a relative in the Texas Rangers, who decided to become a masked vigilante. And the white guy could be his sidekick. That's what Johnny Depp would do if he really wanted to update the legend.

Depp also could've honored Indians by hiring one to play the main role. You know, someone who was tall, dark, and buff, not short, light, and flaccid. Depp could've played the Ranger, the villain, or some other role.

If Disney marketed the film as "Johnny Depp's Lone Ranger," it would've had the same cachet as this version of the movie. The same visibility. Clint Eastwood and Woody Allen get the same audiences whether they're in their movies or not, and Depp would too.

So these excuses fail every test of credibility. Depp made a stereotypical movie and Disney, Harris, and the Comanche Nation enabled him. Way to promote Indians as sideshow freaks, people. Literally, not figuratively, if you count The Lone Ranger's opening scene.

For more on Johnny Depp, see New Tonto as Racist as Old Tonto and Why Tonto Matters.

Comanche chairman justifies Tonto's stereotypes

Comanche chairman Wallace Coffey provides more details on Comanche culture--more than we've heard from Voelker the Lone Ranger adviser:

Special Advance Screening of Disney’s ‘The Lone Ranger’ To Be Held For The Comanche Nation In Oklahoma

By Nancy MaceCommenting on the film, Coffey, who is serving his fifth term as tribal Chairman and is the great-grandson of Comanche leader Chief Ten Bears, says, “This is not a documentary of the Comanche Nation, this is entertainment; but Tonto resembles a true Comanche warrior of the past. The movie is a modern-day portrayal of a period piece, and is a portrayal of how Native Americans may have spoken during that era, when English was their second language” says Coffey.

Coffey explained the significance of the crow on Depp’s head in the movie as reflecting a traditional Comanche dance called the Tuhu Wii, which is translated to the Black Knife. This was an exclusive warrior society, identified by black shawls around the waist, painted faces, and the dance mimicked the crow, which is a symbol of warfare to the Comanche.

“Each warrior painted their face individually as a reflection of their spirituality and visions, and no one warrior painted their face the same,” says Coffey, who has participated in the Tuhu Wii dance by being a Point-Man.Look who's taking sides against Depp's stereotypes. The Indian who thinks mascots are great and loves to be called "savage." Yes, here's an analysis of Coffey's claims from David Yeagley, the right-wing Comanche nutjob.

Johnny Depp and the Yamparika Comanche Crow Dancers

By David YeagleyCurrent Chairman Wallace Coffee has contributed new information as well, in order to justify the otherwise bizarre and irrelevant costume of Johnny Depp.

Coffey cites a historical raven dance from a not-so-well-known warrior society called tuhu wii (too wee), or “black knife,” or “black raven.” Actually, no such term appeared in the earliest Comanche lexicons. There is only the word for night, “toh-kahn,” but no word for black. The only record known of this Tuhu Wii warrior society is from anthropological references which came to light in 1933. A “Tuhwi-Crow-Raven” dance is mentioned–as belonging exclusively to the Yamparkia Comanche. There is no known description of the dance or of any special attire associated with it. There are no visuals. And there is no word as to date of origins of the dance, either. Comanche society is highly individualistic, full of clans, clubs, groups, societies, as typifies any people of profound autonomy. That Yamparika had at some late point (probably post-reservation), a Crow Dance for veterans, is not indicative of a universal Comanche tradition at all.

What little there is about this matter is contained in William C. Meadows’ Kiowa, Apache, and Comanche Military Societies (University of Texas, 1999), pp.274-294, esp. p.284. There is a bit more detail given also on the matter of Comanche attitude about the crow. However, again, there is no visual description of any special costume worn by the Crow dancers.

The Yamparika Comanche (originally named for the yap root, a potato-like root) were the northern-most group of Comanche, living nearest the old Shoshone borders, and it is said that they maintained the closest ties to the Shoshone. Comanche people were (and still are) quite faddish in various aspects of our culture, trending with the wind, more or less. The crow bit simply had no significance among the rest of the Comanche, however important it may have been, temporarily, among the Yamparika. It is impossible to know much more at this point in history. Sometimes, history is simply lost, forever.

But why bring all this matter up, to justify Johnny Depp’s costume, when he states explicitly that he got his costume–not from the Comanche, but from a fantasy painting by white man artist, Kirby Sattler? His costume has only the most coincidental, and remote relation to anything Comanche. The Raven has all sorts of cultural significance for all kinds of people, all over the world, in all periods of history. Trying to make it Comanche, for the sake of a movie costume chosen to imitate a white man’s fantasy painting seems “far-fetched,” indeed.

Why do Comanche leaders (in this case, Comanche Chairman Wallace Coffey, and non-Comanche funded bird man Bill Voelker) feel they have to make Johnny Depp’s costume a Comanche costume? The Lone Ranger is a fantasy film, and Johnny Depp’s “Comanche” character is a fantasy character, with a fantasy costume. Why is there a need to try an add authenticity to it?

In my opinion, this is not only unnecessary, but possibly denigrating. I can easily see a new trend starting in Comanche land: dancers are going to show up at pow-wows with raven head pieces on top of their heads. Johnny Depp will have started a new trend, all because some Comanches tried to justify his fantasy costume. They tried to say it was authentic, or Comanche-related. Thus, Hollywood will have affected Comanche tradition. The white man will have made a new mark, a new scar, on Indian country–on the most powerful tribe of the southern plains, the Comanche.I hate to say it, but Yeagley sounds knowledgeable on the subject. And I agree with his opinion of Depp.

It's curious that Yeagley says "Coffee has contributed new information." Because Yeagley acts like he already knew about the Black Knife or Crow Dance. If so, why didn't Yeagley speak up in the last year or so, when Comanches and other Indians were discussing Depp to death?

But let's assume Yeagley knows what he's talking about, for once, and address a few points.

Tonto talk

Note how Coffey justifies Tonto's broken English. Actually, if you speak a newly learned second language, you generally make a lot of mistakes--especially with the more complex parts. You don't speak it perfectly except for an occasional dropped word, like Tonto's pidgin English.

Consider a typical "Tonto phrase": White man speak with forked tongue.

It's been almost 40 years since my last Spanish class, but I can translate that to: El hombre blanco habla con [forked tongue]. Or, El hombre blanco habla como una culebra. [The white man speaks like a snake.]

Obviously I don't remember advanced vocabulary words such as "forked" and "tongue." But simple verb tenses (habla, he speaks) and articles (el, the) are literally the first things you learn on the first day of your first Spanish class. And the last things you forget.

So the problem isn't just that Tonto speaks English badly. It's that he speaks it badly in a way that makes him look ignorant compared to a typical ESL student.

To prove the point, read novels or watch movies about the 19th century. Can you imagine an Irishman saying, "Me like'um drink on St. Paddy's Day"? No. No foreigner or immigrant ever speaks English the way Tonto does.

And so what if you did find an Indian who spoke that way? What's the justification for making Tonto look more ignorant than average? If Depp's Tonto is supposed to be an improvement, then improve him. If you continue to stereotype Indians as uneducated savages, you're guilty as charged.

The "Crow Dance"

You can read more about the Black Knife Society and Dance here:

Comanche waist shawl

Let me reiterate Yeagley's arguments, since I've made them before myself, and add a few:

Coffey says the movie is "entertainment" as if it won't affect people's perceptions of Indians like thousands of previous Westerns. If so, then why are he and Voelker defending Depp so vigorously? Simply say that Tonto is a fabrication that bears no resemblance to Comanche culture and we'll leave you alone.

A ceremonial outfit worn only during a religious rite is radically different from everyday clothing. Turning a ceremonial outfit into an action-adventure costume is again a sign of disrespect, not respect.

Yeagley is wrong about the Meadows book being the only source of information about the dance. I found an article about it in the Boca Raton News (July 25, 1977).

The key points: 1) The "braves" wear black breechcloths, not crow headdresses, to symbolize a crow. 2) The dance was performed for only the fourth time since 1918.

So the dance isn't part of and doesn't represent mainstream Comanche culture. It's an obscure practice that may almost be extinct.

More important, a crow dance isn't the same as a freakin' crow on the head. Neither Coffey nor Voelker has addressed the no. 1 objection to Tonto's costume.

It can't be said often enough that Depp got his costume from a white man's fantasy painting. Even if Tonto's costume resembled a Comanche's outfit exactly, it would be a fluke. A freakishly lucky coincidence. It wouldn't prove Depp wanted to honor Indians, it would (continue to) prove the opposite.

Repeat: Depp invented a phony costume because he couldn't be bothered to research or consult with Indians in advance. In other words, he doesn't respect real Native cultures. Period. No amount of matching the costume to Comanche culture after the fact will change that.

For more on Johnny Depp, see Hammer Compares Depp to Scissorhands and Depp Derangement Syndrome.

Below:  "Johnny Depp is flanked by Comanche Nation Chairman, Wallace Coffey, right, and the First Lady, Debbie."

Inside scoop on The Lone Ranger

A colleague has investigated some of the rumors and claims about Johnny Depp's Lone Ranger. She basically confirmed everything I've written, including my speculation. Here are her findings (in italics) and my responses.

Depp is the first executive producer listed in the IMDB entry for The Lone Ranger. His production company, Infinitum Nihil, is one of six production companies listed.

This tallies with what I've said before about Disney's coming to Depp and greenlighting the film because of him. The Lone Ranger is a star vehicle for Depp. He's the 800-pound gorilla in the room.

He wasn't handed a script, a costume, and an interpretation of Tonto by others. He determined, controlled, or oversaw these things. If Tonto is stereotypical, it's because Depp wanted him that way. Depp gets the credit or the blame for the movie's portrayal of Indians.

Voelker's role

William Voelker, the movie's Comanche adviser, isn't a historian. He studied ornithology in college but didn't even graduate. So his comments on Comanche history and culture are questionable at best.

Voelker still may be knowledgeable about Comanche history and culture, but there's no reason to assume he is. After all, many Americans don't know anything about US history.

Disney doesn't pay its consultants individually, but it made a donation to Voelker's SIA foundation for eagles.

Far from eliminating the "conflict of interest" question, this donation makes it worse. Voelker might've refused a personal payment, but he may feel obligated to save his eagles at any cost. Therefore, he wouldn't criticize his financial backers even if they were wrong.

Tonto developed as follows: Depp saw Kirby Sattler's painting => invented Tonto's look => went to Voelker => asked him what they could say about the look.

So Voelker was given a fait accompli. He was asked to say yes or no to a multimillion-dollar production, with Disney's funding of his eagle foundation on the line. Wow...talk about a situation guaranteed to produce a desired outcome.

There's a strong implication that Voelker invented his "bird culture" comment to mollify Depp and company. We're supposed to believe that eagles are like crows and wearing eagles feathers is like wearing a crow headdress. Sorry, no sale.

Again, it strains credulity to claim that Tonto's look, which Depp got from a non-Comanche fantasy painting, just happens to represent Comanche culture perfectly. No one's ever seen a Comanche in a headdress or face-paint like Tonto's, so it must be an incredible coincidence.

The Comanche don't distinguish between ravens and crows. Voelker was adamant that both are part of the Comanche "bird culture."

Again, show us the evidence. I don't take the word of someone who isn't a Comanche historian and has a clear conflict of interest.

Voelker knew about the Wendigo storyline but stayed out of it.

See previous comments about his conflict of interest. A real adviser would've said something about this.

Indeed, he would've threatened to go public with his displeasure unless Depp and company changed it. How can you claim to be a Comanche expert when you let a gross falsification of your culture pass without comment?

If you're gonna take the job, then do the job. Don't shill for the company like a spin doctor and expect us to accept it.

Depp's heritage

The Cherokee Nation said Depp isn't one of them--a Cherokee--so they didn't feel obligated to help him. But they left the door open if he came to them. Depp did nothing in response to this offer.

Presumably because Depp knows his unsubstantiated story about having a Cherokee ancestor would've come under increased scrutiny.

LaDonna Harris was a fan of Depp's and felt bad about the criticism he was getting. She adopted him into her family only. The Comanche don't adopt people into the tribe as a whole.

The Comanche Nation also gave Depp a certificate saying he's an honorary tribal member. But Harris's adoption ceremony got the most publicity, with people claiming Depp was now a full-fledged tribal member. Wrong.

Then there's the whole bit about Tonto's Giant Nuts, Johnny Depp's band. This name is about as respectful as Ted Nugent's wearing a headdress in concerts. It shows zero appreciation of Depp's alleged Cherokee ancestry. Indeed, it shows zero appreciation of anything except a stereotypical notion of Indians as macho warrior types.

For more on Johnny Depp, see Depp's Tonto: True or False? and Hammer Says Indians Love Depp.

Lone Ranger had Comanche adviser

Disney is trying to spin Johnny Depp's redface performance as Tonto before the Lone Ranger movie debuts. Here's the latest attempt:

Disney's Tonto Offensive To Some In Upcoming 'Lone Ranger' Film

By Felicia FonsecaWhat has most people scratching their heads is the black crow that appears to hover over Depp's head, and the black stripes that run vertically down his painted face. The inspiration came from a painting by artist Kirby Sattler, who said his work isn't specific to one tribe but is modeled after nomadic Plains tribes of the 19th century.

Depp took the image to the film's Comanche adviser, William "Two-Raven" Voelker, to ask if it was far-fetched. His answer: It's not.

"There are a lot of people out there screaming who are not Comanche, as in this story Tonto is supposed to be," Voelker said. "They know nothing of bird culture. When we wear or use those feathers, we're calling on the energy of the entire bird."

Depp's elaborate costumes–as seen in "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Edward Scissorhands"–are nothing new. Voelker said he never would have agreed to be a consultant on the movie had he not been assured the production team would be sensitive to American Indian culture and committed to at least some historical accuracy.

The teepees used in the movies, for example, have four poles to reflect the way the Comanche built them, not three more commonly seen in movies and that trace back to Cheyenne and Sioux tribes. The production also visited Oklahoma to hear the Comanche language being spoken and worked with Voelker and others to give Depp Comanche lines in the movie.Comment:  News flash! Comanche adviser says Depp's costume, based on a white man's painting of a fantasy Indian, represents Comanche culture. What a lucky break!

It's astonishing if you think about it. Kirby Sattler didn't know he was painting an authentic Comanche years ago. And Depp didn't know he was basing Tonto on an authentic Comanche when he chose the painting as his source.

And yet, both Sattler and Depp got it exactly right, according to the movie's Comanche adviser. Whose paycheck and reputation aren't at all dependent on his unbiased and professional opinion of the multimillion-dollar movie.

What are the odds that both Sattler and Depp would choose the one look out of a thousand that happens to represent the Comanche? It's almost literally a million-to-one shot.

Indeed, I'd say it qualifies as a miracle. Does Pope Francis know about this?!

</sarcasm>

When I originally wrote about Depp's costume, I looked up traditional Comanche beliefs to see if there was anything about crow- or raven-heads. I didn't find any mention of birds. So I look forward to learning more about the Comanche bird culture.

Saying Tonto exemplifies "Comanche bird culture" doesn't address whether the costume is authentic or not. It's a classic non-answer answer.

It's like asking Dan Snyder, "Do you understand that many Indians consider 'Redskins' offensive?" And his answering, "We consider it a symbol of pride."

Same with Voelker's claim about "when we wear or use those feathers." For starters, which feathers? Eagle feathers, which are held sacred by most tribes, are radically different from crow feathers, which aren't held sacred by any tribe I know of.

More to the point, "wearing" or "using" feathers is radically different from wearing an entire bird on your head. Until Voelker proves that a crow-headed headdress is part of Comanche culture, he's confusing two unrelated things. Indians aren't challenging the Comanche use of feathers, they're challenging the ridiculous bird on the head.

Who is William Voelker?

Some info on this Comanche adviser:

Comanche repository seeks funds for preservation

By Dana AttocknieThe Comanche Nation Ethno Ornithological Initiative is the nesting place for more than 70 eagles and other birds of cultural importance to Native Americans. But like many Native programs today, it’s looking for more operating funds.

The Sia Essential Species Repository is searching for funds to keep alive its mission of Comanche “preservation through cultural understanding of the eagle in history, science and spirit.”

“All of it is focused on the avian side of our history, the bird cultures,” Sia Founder and Director William Voelker said. “Although eagles are of primary importance, we address our relationship historically with all avian species.”

Sia, the Comanche word for feather, took flight in 1999 when the CNEOI was incorporated under the Comanche Nation as a tribal program.

Although Sia does not rehabilitate birds, it accepts birds that have been rehabilitated and provides a home for them if they can’t be released into the wild.

“We have eagles here from five continents. We feel a strong responsibility to assist with endangered eagles worldwide,” Voelker saidAnd from SIA's own website, we learn Voelker is on the board of directors:Wahathuweeka William Voelker:

Proud member of the Ohnononuh band of the Numunuh (Comanche). Co-founded Sia in 1999 based on three decades of research and experience with native eagles and raptors of historic cultural significance to the Numunuh. Mr. Voelker is the first Native American to hold federal permits for the care and propagation of Bald and Golden Eagles and the only individual to have successfully produced offspring of both species in captivity via artificial insemination. Three hundred native eagles, most of which were released to the wild, have been hatched in captivity since 1975, one of which was the world's first Bald Eagle produced via artificial insemination in 1982. Expertise involves more than 20 eagle species from five continents as well as the ethno-ornithology of the indigenous cultures of each non-native species of eagle. Mr. Voelker also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Comanche Nation NAGPRA & Historic Preservation Programs.Guess who else is on the board of directors? LaDonna Harris, the woman who adopted Johnny Depp. That's a conveniently close-knit group of people.

Oddly, there are no mentions of Voelker's "Two-Raven" nickname anywhere. Indeed, there are no mentions whatsoever of ravens or crows. Just eagles and other raptors.

Sia has archives containing 24,000 pages of historical documents related to the Comanche, plus historical photos. Surely Voelker and Harris could share some information about the Comanche practice of wearing birds on their heads. No?

Skeptical about Voelker

The Voelker quote led to a discussion on Facebook:Hmmmm crows on an Indian's head "not too far fetched." Well what is far fetched is Voelker saying it isn't. Sounds to me if they would have asked Voelker if it was too far fetched to believe monkeys will fly out of Depp's butt--he'd say "It's not."Most Indians hold the eagle in high regard. That's not a Comanche-specific trait. And I don't see how it justifies a crow (not an eagle) on Johnny's head.

Sounds to me like Voelker's answer is a little shifty. Like, "We love birds, but I'm not gonna tell you which one. If you infer that it's a crow rather than an eagle, that's your problem. I didn't explicitly lie."

The tipis and a few Comanche words may be accurate, but the costume, the broken English, and the use of the woodlands Wendigo are probably inaccurate. That's like a C-/D+ in terms of accuracy. It's not something to "crow" about...get it?

Sounds to me like they brought in Voelker in the middle and told him they were going to be sensitive and authentic. Instead, they should've brought him in in the beginning and asked him if what they planned was okay.

What's he gonna say after they've sunk $100 million or whatever into the production already? "No, it's all wrong. You have to start over." I might say that, but most people wouldn't.

P.S. Maybe William Voelker became William "Two-Pirate" Voelker when he learned Depp was making the movie. And when he saw the costume, he became William "Two-Raven" Voelker.

If Disney wants to hire Voelker again, he'll change his name to "Two-Mouse" (Mickey and Minnie).

In short, color some of us skeptical about this Comanche adviser and his advice. When he documents the role of ravens and crows--not eagles--in Comanche culture, then we can start taking him seriously.

For more on Johnny Depp, see Depp's Tonto: True or False? and Hammer Says Indians Love Depp.

Below:  Bill Voelker.

Radio marathon for Comanche codetalkers

Radio marathon honors Comanche code talker history

By Ty AlbinWhen U.S. soldiers landed several miles off of Utah Beach during World War II's Normandy invasion on D-Day, Comanche code talker Larry Saupitty was there. He sent the first message back to Allied Forces in a code based on the Comanche language, telling command they had made a good landing but in the wrong place.

Comanche soldiers all from within a few miles of Lawton were vital to the secrecy of the effort against the Axis powers. On Wednesday, Victory in Europe Day, the Comanche Nation Museum, the Lawton-Fort Sill Amateur Radio Club and the Eisenhower Middle School Amateur Radio Club chose to honor the Comanche code talkers by starting a four-day amateur radio marathon during which they will contact people all over the world via short wave radio and tell the code talkers' story.

The radio enthusiasts are broadcasting from a mobile unit set up behind the museum.

"It's an excellent opportunity to tell the Comanche code talker story," said Candy Morgan, director of marketing and public programs for the museum.Comment:  For more on codetalkers, see Charles Bronson in Never So Few and Japanese Photographer Specializes in Codetalkers.

Little criticism of Depp's Tonto?!

‘The Lone Ranger’: Disney’s Make-Good to Native Americans

By Bryan EnkHave you noticed that there has been (rather surprisingly) very little public outrage over Johnny Depp being cast as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger"? That's because Disney, in true Tonto style, heads it off at the pass.

Depp plays the Ranger's Native American partner in the upcoming multi-million dollar extravaganza that reunites the superstar with his "Pirates of the Caribbean" director (for the first three installments, anyway), Gore Verbinski.

Disney wants "The Lone Ranger" to follow in the footsteps of "Pirates" and become a major franchise for the studio, a mission that included making sure that Depp's casting didn't offend the Native American community.

Disney, as always, played it smart and savvy. The studio--and Depp--embarked on a broad outreach program early in pre-production, courting Native American approval long before cameras rolled by having several Native American leaders involved in the script's development. During filming, Depp--who has identified himself as being of Native American ancestry--was adopted into the Comanche Nation via a private ceremony in the presence of then-tribal chairman Johnny Wauqua. Disney even had local Navajo elders perform a Navajo blessing before production commenced in Monument Valley, and LaDonna Harris, a leader of the Americans For Indian Opportunity, was invited on set. The good relations continued after production wrapped, with Depp flying to Lawton, Oklahoma to join "his people" at the Comanche Nation Fair.

Disney has also created a character worthy of all of this attention and approval. The Tonto of the 1950s television show spoke broken English and lacked character depth, serving as little more than an amusing sidekick to the heroic Ranger. Depp's Tonto is claimed to be an authentic portrayal of the character's rich Comanche heritage.Enk misses the mark badly wiht his last comment. Based on the trailers, Depp's Tonto also speaks in broken English. More important, neither nor anyone else has claimed the Tonto character represents an authentic Comanche. The prima facie evidence--the ridiculous crow-head costume--argues just the opposite.

Adrienne Keene responds

Adrienne Keene of Native Appropriations reposted this article on Facebook along with this comment:Funny that this gets posted today..."Have you noticed that there has been (rather surprisingly) very little public outrage over Johnny Depp being cast as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger"? That's because Disney, in true Tonto style, heads it off at the pass." Um, clearly Mr. Bryan Enk didn't google "Johnny Depp Tonto"--because google even auto fills "Johnny Depp Tonto controversy" and "Johnny Depp Tonto racist." I'd say there's been quite a bit of public outrage.Her followers chimed in with the following:White media consuming only white media, translates to: Pats on the back, "Oh boy, we're awesome!"

OK but he is native. So there's my question on this one. Does his being native make it a little better or worse? I don't know how to feel on this one LOL (maybe it's cuz I love him :P)

He is NOT Native, he was adopted by a Comanche family and his supposed Cherokee blood was proven to be a lie as someone had done his family history and they were all listed as white, the reason people don't want to believe this because they've put him on a pedestal, he's just another white guy who is going portray Natives with every cliche and stereotype out there.

I get that he's half Cherokee. That's not why he got the role. He got it because he's Johnny Depp.

He's not half Cherokee.

I for one am boycotting the movie, I love Johnny's work 99% of the time. But I can name a dozen Native actors who should've gotten the role over him and if he really respected Native culture he would've bowed out with grace and humility and given the role to a real Native American instead of buying himself an adoption in order to give himself credentials.

How is it that anyone thinks this guy has any Native ancestors still?

This is at least partly the same team that did the 'Pirates' movies--it's not really surprising that Depp was cast, and as someone known for being part-Native American (although I don't know now if that's true, based on above comments), Disney probably thought they had a free pass. Which is a shame, because there are plenty of talented Native American actors out there who could have been cast in this role but were passed over in favor of a less accurate (read: more offensive), but more prominent name. Publicity, folks!

I think most people who believe he's part Native also consider themselves part due to the eponymous Cherokee princess grandmother.

Depp is no more NDN than any frat guy in a headdress is on Halloween. Fans of his who claim otherwise need to pull their heads outta their asses.

The fact he MAYBE has some vague ancestor who might be one tribe or another, that does not sound like anyone invested in his alleged Native lineage or identity.More excuses for Depp

This brief article:

Why 'The Lone Ranger's' Johnny Depp Joined the Comanche Nation

doesn't explain the title question. The answer is simple and obvious: to forestall criticism of Depp's performance. To give him instant credibility among gullible audience members. In other words, the way to whitewash redface is to get Natives to shill for you.

'Lone Ranger': New Character Posters Released

For more on Johnny Depp, see Michelle Shining Elk on Johnny Depp and Depp Too "Pretty" to Play Natives?!

LaDonna Harris as a "maker"

LaDonna Harris to Appear on "New Mexico in Focus," in Conjunction with PBS Documentary "MAKERS: Women Who Make America"LaDonna Harris (Comanche), president and founder of Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO), will be featured on New Mexico PBS’s “New Mexico in Focus,” in conjunction with the PBS documentary “MAKERS: Women Who Make America.” The special will air on New Mexico PBS (KNME) March 8, 2013 at 7:00pm MDT.

Harris, one of three local women selected for the series, is a remarkable statesman and national leader who has enriched the lives of thousands. She has devoted her life to building coalitions that create change. She has been a consistent and ardent advocate on behalf of Tribal America. In addition, she continues her activism in the areas of civil rights, environmental protection, the women’s movement and world peace.

Artist Judy Chicago and Governor Susana Martinez were also selected for the series.

According to PBS, “MAKERS” tells the remarkable story of the most sweeping social revolution in American history, as women have asserted their rights to a full and fair share of political power, economic opportunity, and personal autonomy.Comment:  LaDonna Harris is also well-known for adopting Johnny Depp as a Comanche.

For more on that subject, see Johnny Depp in Comanche Nation Parade and Johnny Depp Is Honorary Comanche.

Depp's honorary tribal certificate

In a previous posting about Johnny Depp, I said there was no evidence he was adopted by the Comanche Nation rather than a Comanche family. I stand corrected. Here's the evidence:



The certificate says "Honorary Tribal Member." So now it's official: Depp is an unofficial member of the tribe.

He'll be an official member, and thus an Indian, when the Comanches strike the word "honorary" and give him full citizenship. Until then, he's still a white man with a small amount of Native blood.

For more on the subject, see Johnny Depp in Comanche Nation Parade and Comanche Filmmaker Criticizes Depp.

Johnny Depp in Comanche Nation Parade

Photos and Videos: Johnny Depp Makes Surprise Appearance at Comanche Nation ParadeActor Johnny Depp, who is portraying Tonto in The Lone Ranger, coming to theaters in 2013, made an unannounced appearance on Saturday at the Comanche Nation Fair in Lawton, Oklahoma. In May, Depp was adopted into the Comanche Nation by LaDonna Harris, president and founder of Americans for Indian Opportunity, who sat next to Depp in the back of a convertible that cruised the parade route.

Gil Birmingham, Comanche, who also appears in The Lone Ranger, was on hand as well. According to a report at TMZ, Depp served as grand marshal of the parade.Comment:  No, Depp wasn't "adopted into the Comanche Nation." The latest reports indicate he was made an honorary member at most. For more on the subject, see Johnny Depp Is Honorary Comanche and Jones:  Depp Is an Indian.

Below:  "Actor Johnny Depp with actor Gil Birmingham, LaDonna Harris, and Judy Winchester."

Comanche filmmaker criticizes Depp

Will Depp’s portrayal of Tonto add to struggle Natives face in filmmaking?

By Rod PocowatchitI have liked his choices in movies, his creative collaborations with Tim Burton, and his ability to completely disappear into a role.

But I am not a fan of his casting as Comanche sidekick Tonto in “The Lone Ranger,” coming out in May 2013. And I particularly do not like the publicity photo teaser that was recently released on the Internet. It shows him with pale, ghostly face paint and a headdress that looks like a crow died on his head. It’s certainly not dress that is authentic to Comanches of the Old West era, and seems to imply ridiculousness for the sake of comedy.

I am Comanche (as well as Pawnee and Shawnee). And I think we shouldn’t be embracing this portrayal, but protesting it.

Just earlier this week, though, it was announced that Depp was officially adopted into my tribe by Ladonna Harris, a Comanche member and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity. Comanche Nation chairman Johnny Wauqua was also present for the ceremony that took place at Harris’ home in Albuquerque on May 16.

While I always favor an act of goodwill such as this (and it’s pretty cool to say that Depp is now one of my tribal brothers), I question the intent. Is it simply because Depp is a worldwide superstar? Or is it that we truly embrace the way Tonto will be portrayed in the film?

I think they’re two separate things, even though the act seems to imply that the Comanche nation as whole gives its stamp of approval to the film.Comment:  Pocowatchit is a filmmaker as well as a Comanche, so his words carry weight for both reasons. He's not buying the intent behind Depp's adoption. He might not buy the adoption itself if he read the info in Johnny Depp Is Honorary Comanche.

Pocowatchit is asking the right questions. People were already dismissing criticism of Depp "because he's Native" before the adoption. As if some thin-blooded "Cherokee" was knowledgeable about all things Comanche--an unrelated tribe hundreds of miles from Depp's home. Now they'll have another reason to dismiss criticism of Depp.

I'm guessing Disney's or Depp's PR people had this in mind when they proposed the adoption. "Let's see if the Comanches will adopt him, make him an honorary member," they thought. "It'll give him and the movie a seal of approval." I'd be amazed if it came about with no PR involvement. If it ever comes out, I look forwarding to reading the inside story of Depp's adoption.

For more on the subject, see Jones:  "Depp Is an Indian" and The Magical Power of Adoption.

Johnny Depp is honorary Comanche

The Associated Press published this account of Johnny Depp's adoption a day or so after other news outlets, but I didn't see it until now. Too bad, because it addresses a key point.

Comanche Tribe Makes Johnny Depp Honorary MemberJohnny Depp has been made an honorary member of the Comanche tribe.

Depp is in New Mexico, shooting the film adaptation of "The Lone Ranger." He plays "Ranger" sidekick Tonto in the film.

Comanche Nation tribal member LaDonna Harris said Tuesday that the tribal chairman presented Depp with a proclamation at her Albuquerque home May 16. She said the Comanche adoption tradition means she now considers Depp her son.

Harris said Depp seemed humbled.Comment:  Ah, an answer to my questions. Contradicting the initial media reports, including the uncritical report from Indian Country Today, Depp is only an honorary member. He was not adopted into the Comanche Nation as a full member.

My impression is the AP saw the same articles I did and asked the same questions. That's why its article uses the "honorary member" phrase so prominently. It's a big thumbed-nose at the rest of the media. "Ha ha, we got it right and you didn't."

But this brief report didn't answer all my questions. In particular, I wondered what the proclamation said. So I looked into it a little more and found the Comanches' own report on the event in the Comanche Nation News:

June 2012 Issue

I can't link directly to the article, but it's on page 5. The headline says:

International Actor, Johnny Depp, Made Goodwill Ambassador to the Comanche Nation; Adopted by Tribal Elder Harris

So the news, according to the Comanches' own headline, isn't that Depp is a member or an honorary member. It's that he's a goodwill ambassador--a point no one's mentioned until now.

The proclamation says less than I thought it would. It recognizes Depp as a "ceremonial member" of Harris's family and names him a "Goodwill Ambassador" for the Comanche Nation. It doesn't say he's any kind of member of the tribe.

Elsewhere in the article, writer Jolene Schonchin suddenly refers to Depp as "an honorary member of the tribe." But it's not clear how Depp got that way. Was Harris's adoption ceremony enough to accomplish it? Did the tribal council declare it in another proclamation? Or...?

The implication is that anyone who's adopted by a tribal member becomes an honorary member. So Depp may be an honorary member by tradition or custom. Since we've yet to see any official word from the tribe, even the "honorary" designation is in doubt. Maybe Harris considers her "son" an honorary member but the rest of the tribe doesn't.

In any case, Depp is an honorary member at most, not a full member. And therefore still not an Indian.

For more on the subject, see Jones:  "Depp Is an Indian" and The Magical Power of Adoption.

Jones: "Depp is an Indian"

Who’s an Indian? Johnny Depp

By Dan JonesWhich brings us to this recent hot-button topic: What’s wrong with Johnny Depp playing an Indian? Nothing now, because he is an American Indian. If the Comanche say it, then it is so. He has received some expert advice on Indians from none other than the political and cultural genius of LaDonna Harris. No one can argue with the fact a tribe has the right to determine who is an Indian. If the Comanche Nation wishes to adopt a space alien, it would not be in any tribe’s interest to criticize. Another tribe would only be limiting their own authority to do the same. From some of his statements, I don’t think Depp really knows enough about us to have come up with this brilliant way of eliminating all the questions about his being Indian. Again I take my hat off to Harris and the Comanche Nation for walking into the middle of what could have been a nasty long-term debate and putting an end to it. Johnny Depp is an Indian.

I really do hope that Depp has a good experience out of all this Lone Ranger business. He can do a lot to help us by shining a light on all kinds of issues in Indian country, and now that he is one of us, he carries the spirit and the responsibility. I think he might have been blown away by all the criticism, but he did ask for it. I was reading some of his interviews and the problem became very apparent—he doesn’t know much about Indians. Not that he has to, he just has to be able to act like an Indian, but check out what he said. Speaking about the painting he took his inspiration from for Tonto said this, “It just so happens, Sattler had painted a bird flying directly behind the warrior’s head. It looked to me like it was sitting on top,” Depp revealed. “I thought: Tonto’s got a bird on his head. It’s his spirit guide in a way. It’s dead to others, but it’s not dead to him. It’s very much alive.”Jones eventually notes what's wrong with that:So what is an Indian stereotype? One of the most common is that we are all some kind of mystic or medicine man/woman. We have seen that play out very recently when James Arthur Ray, a man playing a medicine man, killed some people in a sweat lodge. So, inadvertent as it may be, Johnny Depp is playing into the stereotypes of American Indians by playing one as medicine man, Tonto. All this because he really doesn’t know what he is doing, so I suspect it will end up a dark comedy.And just to let you know who Jones is:Dan (SaSuWeh) Jones is the former chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. He is a filmmaker and Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, appointed by former Oklahoma Governor, Brad Henry.Comment:  Here's how I summarized this op/ed on Facebook and Twitter:

Ponca leader thinks Depp is now a full-fledged Comanche citizen with voting rights, etc. Too bad there's no evidence of it.

Unless the "adoption" makes him a Comanche citizen with voting rights, casino profits, etc., Depp still isn't an Indian.

The key line in Jones's piece is:If the Comanche say it, then it is so.Which is my point. The Comanche tribe hasn't said it--at least not in the published reports.

When the Comanche people, speaking through their duly elected government, declare Johnny Depp to be one of them, I'll concede the point. But LaDonna Harris isn't the Comanche people. As far as I know, she has no authority to make unilateral tribal membership decisions. And the Comanche government hasn't addressed the issue.

Chairman's presence makes it official?

This led to more discussion on Facebook:From what I've read, "In attendance were Comanche Nation Interim Tribal Chairman Johnny Wauqua, AIO’s staff and close family members."

So, leadership was aware....The chairman's attendance doesn't change the point. I presume he doesn't have the power to unilaterally enroll people either. And no one has said he even participated in Harris's ceremony. It sounds to me like he merely observed it.

"Leadership was aware" means the leadership thought it was nice that Harris was conducting her own personal ceremony and bringing good publicity to the tribe. That's not the same as legally ratifying her adoption and enrolling Depp as a tribal member.

If the entire tribal council attended and had an ad hoc vote to ratify Harris's adoption, then you might have something. As far as I know, that didn't happen.

Enrollment usually happens through a committee that examines a person's genealogy and then votes on whether to accept him or her. Right? As far as I know, most tribes don't allow individuals to bypass this process by hold adoption ceremonies for non-Indians. Or by waving magic wands over them.

In conclusion, Jones is wrong. Until Depp is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, he isn't an Indian. He's still a white man with a small amount of Indian "blood."

For more on the subject, see The Magical Power of Adoption and Questioning Depp's Comanche Adoption.

The magical power of adoption

I've noted the reports claiming Johnny Depp was "adopted into the Comanche Nation." Based on these reports, I had questions, so I posted the following notes on Facebook:

Tell me more about this amazing adoption power that turns non-Indians into Indians.

Is it unique to LaDonna Harris? Do all Comanches have this power? Do all Indians have it?

If you're an average Navajo, Cherokee, or Lakota, can you make me a member of your tribe just by performing a ceremony? And the tribal government, as well as every tribal member, will recognize me as a member? After I become a Navajo, Cherokee, or Lakota, do I have to wait, or can I start collecting my government/casino checks immediately? (Just kidding, sort of.)

Please elucidate, someone. Inquiring minds want to know.

Thoughts on the subject

These comments led to a discussion with various Facebook friends:I know what you mean, I've known Natives (Saginaw was one of 'em) who have these so called "adoption" ceremonies with non-Native people! That's just stupid if you ask me! This does not make you Indian...sorry.It's one thing to claim Johnny Depp is an honorary Comanche. But don't tell me he's a full-fledged Comanche unless he has all the rights and privileges of tribal membership. As confirmed by the Comanche government in its official government documents.Just to rabble rouse...you know Indians adopted children all the time...it was only the white treaty makers who insisted on the "blood quantum" stuff.Yes, but those adoptions were recognized by the tribe as a whole. People who joined or were captured often had to go through a period of servitude to prove themselves. Eventually they underwent an initiation or adoption ceremony to become full-fledged tribal members.

A tribe's recognition of this process is what made non-Indians into Indians. Getting approved in a tribal ceremony was equivalent to a positive vote in a tribal government. In short, membership was up to the tribe, not to individuals.

Tribes continue to have the power to recognize adoptions, I think, but that power would be invested in the tribal government. I don't see LaDonna Harris having the power to add members on her own. To her family, yes, but not to the tribe's membership rolls.Yep. Agreed.

On the flip side, there are some tribal members who marry outside the tribe (tribal or not) and their spouse eventually knows more traditional knowledge than most tribal members...recognized by the community yes indeed, given the same political rights nope....over time the notion of 4/4 tribal members will be obsolete (fed gov't calls it statistical genocide)...acceptance is a part of this notion of enrollment...good stuff rob.If I were a tribe, I'd consider enrolling those non-Native spouses and children as members. But again, that should be the decision of the tribe as a whole, working through its government. Individual Indians shouldn't get to enroll whoever they want.

P.S. There's absolutely no truth to the rumor that Elizabeth Warren and Ward Churchill are trying to meet with LaDonna Harris.

Final thoughts

Via Twitter I tried again to find someone with the magical power of adoption:

Do any of you have the power to turn me into an Indian just by saying so? Like LaDonna Harris did with Johnny Depp? If so, give me a holler.

I'm not a wannabe, but it might be fun to be an Indian for a while. Just for kicks, you know. I trust I can go back to being an Anglo if being an Indian becomes inconvenient.Sure. *waves magic wand* Now you're Indian! Punjabi, to be precise.Wrong Indian!Too late. I don't know how to undo it.I hope someone does have a magic wand to turn me into an (American) Indian. Someone other than LaDonna Harris, that is. I may have burned my bridges with my questioning of her.

For more on the subject, see Questioning Depp's Comanche Adoption and Depp's Intent Doesn't Excuse Stereotypes.

Questioning Depp's Comanche adoption

The media has widely reported Johnny Depp's "adoption into the Comanche Nation." Some thoughts on whether this claim is accurate and what it means.

Pondering the headlines, I asked the following on Twitter:

Has Johnny Depp become a real or an honorary member of the Comanche Nation? I'd say "real" if he can vote in tribal elections. Anyone know?

This led to a Facebook discussion with a couple of people:He's an "imaginary" member, no?I'm not even sure he's an honorary member. Does Ladonna Harris have the power to bestow any kind of membership on someone? Or is it a pure fiction?Fiction, I imagine.These are the questions the reporters should be asking.No such thing as being adopted by a tribe. An individual Comanche adopted him as an honorary family member.If that's the case, many of the articles are misreporting it.No surprise. It's a persistent urban legend that whites can get adopted by a tribe. Even L. Ron Hubbard claimed it. But you can only be adopted by a person or family.So Depp probably was adopted into Harris's family in a ceremony that has no political or cultural standing. Depp's PR people must be working overtime to get that misreported as an adoption into the Comanche Nation.

Does Depp think the "adoption" will shield his portrayal of Tonto from criticism? Did that even enter his mind? I'd love to know the thinking behind this move, and how it came about.

Here's another take on the adoption--from writer Gyasi Ross on Facebook:This is just some terrible, corny new agey mumbo jumbo...Jonny Depp has never done anything for Native people and was adopted 100% on the basis of his celebrity status--there's PLENTY of non-Natives that work within Indian Country, there are people with real Native ancestry who aren't members...nobody's rushing out to adopt those folks. We need to stop being groupies and start having some standards about our Nations. Things like this are the reason why people like Elizabeth Warren and Princess Palemoon and all those box checkers feel comfortable saying they're Native--because so many of us treat membership as if it's a popularity contest. Disgusting.Nobody's criticizing Depp?

Why Can Johnny Depp Play Tonto, but Ashton Kutcher and Sacha Baron Cohen Get Slammed?

By Leslie GornsteinWhy does Johnny Depp get adopted by the Comanche for his Tonto role while Ashton Kutcher and Sacha Baron Cohen get ripped for their racially charged characters?

—Hella Johnny, via the inbox

Indeed, Johnny Depp has been adopted as an honorary son by a member of the Comanche Nation, essentially making him a part of that group. However, you are not alone in your line of thinking; not everyone is thrilled at the new matchup, or Depp's chosen approach to his Lone Ranger character:

In fact, Depp has been fielding criticism for months about his upcoming turn as Tonto. His exaggerated Marilyn Manson face paint, the dead bird he wears on his head—none of that has sat particularly well with many Native Americans.

That said, yes, Comanche LaDonna Harris did go ahead and ceremonially adopt the 48-year-old actor in her backyard on May 16. Per tradition, Depp was given small gifts, such as pottery, to then redistribute to the people who were honoring him.

Harris, who is president of the Americans for Indian Opportunity, told me that she has no worries about Depp's portrayal of Tonto. In fact, just the opposite.

"I don't share that concern for one reason," she told this B!tch. "Tonto is a role reversal this time. He's the hero in the movie, the brains. And the sidekick is the white guy, so to speak."The short answer to the article's question is that Depp is getting plenty of criticism in Indian country. It may be under your radar, but it's there. And one adoption doesn't change it.

I had a long discussion with someone on Facebook about Kutcher's playing a stereotypical Asian Indian. I said it was wrong for the same reasons as Depp's playing Tonto. Sacha Baron Cohen's characters are also problematical, but at least he's attempting some serious satire.

Harris's comments here are just as ridiculous as calling Depp's portrayal "historic." As I noted before, this take on Tonto is boringly unoriginal. It's noteworthy only if you're ignorant about the Lone Ranger's long history in pop culture.

Harris hasn't seen the movie, so she doesn't know if Depp's "role reversal" works. If Tonto is a stereotypical "spirit warrior," it's more of a problem if he's the main character. Tonto as the central character works only if the portrayal is free of mistakes and stereotypes, and that's in grave doubt.

Meanwhile, Harris has nothing to say about Depp's fantasy costume, which will influence perceptions regardless of anything else in the movie. So Harris is unconcerned because she doesn't know or care about the main thing that concerns everyone else. Something about an ostrich with its head in the sand comes to mind.

For more on the subject, see Depp's Intent Doesn't Excuse Stereotypes and Depp Admits Tonto Costume's Origin.