Native News Network

For too many Native Americans, the adage “Don’t get sick after June” once applied—because Indian Health Service (IHS) funds sometimes dwindled then—but soon it may be a different story with different outcomes.

For example, Colorado’s two tribal nations can keep IHS health care as it is at present, create a tribal health plan for their members, or craft a hybrid IHS/tribal plan through the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange), slated to open in October 2013. Tribes in other states would also have options.

The possible Native plans and state health exchanges are a part of the federal Affordable Care Act, which is to enable low- and moderate-income individuals and small employers to obtain affordable health coverage. It also permanently authorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

The Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes “are exploring their options,” Myung Oak Kim, Exchange communications and outreach specialist, said of the tribes in southwestern Colorado.

http://www.fempop.com/2012/07/23/lost-silent-film-with-american-indian-cast-rediscovered-and-restored/

Jul 23, 2012

Jul 23, 2012

By Alex Cranz

Photo: The Daughter of Dawn, as played by Esther LeBarre.

The Daughter of Dawn was considered a quirk of American cinematic history, a lost full length feature film that happened to be about American Indians and starring only American Indians.

Shot in 1920, during the heyday of silent film, the film featured a cast of Comanches and Kiowas whom provided their own props, costumes, set dressings and horses. Among the cast were Wanada and White Parker, the children of famous Comanche chief Quanah Parker and the grandchildren of Cynthia Ann Parker. If that name is ringing a bell it’s because she was the inspiration for both Natalie Wood’s character in The Searchers and Mary McDonnell’s character in Dances With Wolves. (How one woman’s story could create two such wildly different characters and tales is a conversation for another article.)

Producer Richard E. Banks was familiar but with the Native populations of Texas and Oklahoma and with Hollywood’s terrible representation of all Native people. So he hired direct Norbert Myles to write and direct a film that didn’t use Native people as props in a white man’s story.

Unfortunately between 1920 and now the film was lost.

Only somehow, like the classics Metropolis and Gloria Swanson’s Beyond the Rocks, The Daughter of Dawn was rediscovered. A private investigator received reels of the film as payment from a client. He quickly realized that what he had on his hands was a valuable long-lost film and contacted the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. With the help of Oklahoma Historical Society they were able to purchased the film and restore.

And now the first ten minutes of this very cool piece of our history is online.

The History Blog has the whole story. It’s a fascinating read and this is a truly fascinating piece of history once thought lost.

And if you’re jonsing for a copy of the full length film, the Oklahoma Historical Society is planning on selling it on DVD in the near future.

Source [The History Blog via NewsOK]

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/jul/27/american-indian-ballplayer-was-a-standout/

Bill Young, a native of Minnesota, a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and a professor of religious studies for 35 years at Westminster College in Fulton, has published four books — all concerning religions of the world.

John Tortes "Chief" Meyers was a Cahuilla Indian from California who became one of the best catchers in the major leagues between 1908 and 1920. He led the New York Giants to three consecutive World Series from 1911-13 and played in a fourth series with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1916.

Young's fifth book, just off the press, is titled "John Tortes 'Chief' Meyers: A Baseball Biography," published by McFarland and Co.

So how does an author and teacher of religious studies become the author of a baseball biography? The answer is twofold. First, Bill Young has been a baseball fan since childhood. Second, he earlier had written "Quest for Harmony," an in-depth look at American Indian religions.

Several years ago, Bill and his son, Matt, visited the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Matt said, "Dad, why don't you write a biography of Chief Bender?"

Bender, a Cherokee right-hander, had helped the Philadelphia Athletics dominate the American League before World War I.

When Bill followed up on his son's suggestions, he found several books already had been written about Bender. He then looked elsewhere for another American Indian worthy of the research needed for a definitive biography.

He quickly found Meyers. Meyers grew up on the Santa Rosa Cahuilla Indian Reservation in Southern California, combining baseball with a thirst for knowledge. He spent a year at Dartmouth College, played semi-pro baseball in the Southwest and then was signed by the New York Giants.

Meyers was a .291 lifetime hitter who caught at least 110 games of the 154-game schedule for seven straight years. He hit only 14 home runs but was considered an explosive line-drive hitter, best with men in scoring position. On defense, he had excellent hands and one of the most accurate and strongest arms in history.

He became Christy Mathewson's batterymate from 1909 to 1914, a time when the Hall of Fame right-hander won 148 games. He also became the roommate of Jim Thorpe, the 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon champion.

Young traced Meyers' career from his youth through the big leagues and his personal journey as a young American Indian who resisted being assimilated into the non-American Indian society. Meyers broke down many racial barriers blocking American Indians a century ago, just as Jackie Robinson opened many doors for blacks 35 years later.

Meyers returned to his native Cahuilla home when his career ended and remained a leader in American Indian affairs until he died in 1971 at age 91.

Bill Young? He was born in Duluth, Minn., and grew up in Ponca City, Okla. He graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1967 with a degree in political science and history, then received his master's degree in religion from Chicago's McCormick Theological Seminary, "where I cut many classes to go to a Cubs' game," he admits.

He married a girl named Sue in 1967, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, and graduated with a doctorate in religion from Willamette University in 1974. A year later, he came to Westminster to teach religious studies.

Along the way, he wrote three books to join "Quest for Harmony." His textbook on the Bible has just gone through its eighth edition. The other books are "The World's Religions" and a church history, "St. Mary Aldermanbury."

The Youngs moved to Columbia in 1989, a year after Sue took a teaching job at Rock Bridge Elementary School. She retired in 2005, then taught part time at the University of Missouri until 2009.

The Youngs are devoted Cardinals fans, but Bill remains a true Cubs fan except when they play the Cardinals.

You can get the Meyers book at Amazon.com. 'Tis an excellent read by a true local baseball aficionado.

Bill Clark's columns appear Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Reach him at 474-4510.