Old Indian at Bee Nah

During his past week I was in Bee Nah and ran into an old friend who I hadn't seen for 13 years or so. He looked good, he has a sharp mind and in a way is a person who questions why people do the things they do and as a result can rub people the wrong way, but he often speaks for natives.

He told me he has been living in a tipi for the past five years with his wife and two sons. He is by his name given to him when he was a child by his grandmother, called "old Indian", but not in English but in his native tongue. He has a good heart, a strong conviction to the grassroots people and a traditional lifesyle. He doesn't proselytize it but lives his life quietly without fanfare and yet represents the best of our way of life.

We talked for a while and he had to leave as he takes care of his mother. He himself suffered from polio as a child and walks with a stiff gait, yet his eyes are curiouis taking in everything he sees. He talked about his son and that he has quite an imagination as they have no television. He speaks his own language.

He would be considered poor by many but yet he is not as he retains a dignity by his existence and it can be seen in his countenance. He is not afraid to speak his mind and I got to know him when he was tribal court advocate. He was effective and diligent in the way he spoke for people who could not speak for themselves and even now questions the actions of the tribe and BIA, as well county and state actions that infringe on native issuues.

I was sent a link to a new book on natives that included modern portrains of indians. I went to the site and in looking over the pictures in the book you reference the pictures do not reflect a cross section of native life, but appear to be lacking and yet I can see my friend would never pose for such a picture as it would appear to him pretentious. So it goes on the rez...