Ted is enough Cherokee to have a roll number and thus whatever he paints can be designated Native American art.
He is good, I think. We have several Kelly Haney's, a Jon
Tiger, and two Betta Parker's. We bought a poster by
Quanah Parker Bowles, a descendent of Quanah Parker.
I had it framed and I love it. It is called Quahoda Warrior.

I met Betta Parker at an art show. She was a beautiful
Cherokee woman with auburn hair and blue eyes. Many
Cherokees have red hair. She is one of my personal
favorites but sadly she died a few years ago from cancer.

Fredo photographed my squash blossom and Ted has bought
me other silver and turquoise jewelry. The squash blossom
is "old pawn" jewelry and the Navajo bank. It is called that
because the Indians pawned it to pay bills at trading posts.
It was made from silver dimes painstakingly crafted.
It was their wealth. The men had belt buckles made of 50
cent pieces.

Growing up in Oklahoma, I grew up being close to Native
American people. Both of my children have a small bit
of Native American blood. My daughter shows it but has
not been able to prove it since many people refused to
get on the roll because they felt it demeaned them. A few
foolish people are dumb enough to still feel prejudice
against American Indians. I love the dancing and the
drumming at the festivals.

Indian culture is such that it holds them back in our
greedy, clutching society. It is against tribal beliefs to
want to push and shove and outdo others. I gave enough
intelligence tests to "dumb" Indian children to know that
they are very bright. Hopefully, I was able to convey that
to their teachers.





young