1941: The deepest insult in many seems to be the artist’s confusion of Cheyennes with Navajos.

Heap Big Pickets!

                                                                 1941, June 21 The Cincinnati Enquirer 

The technic of the picket line is doubtless a white man’s invention, arising from the unhappy exigencies of the machine age. But it has been adopted by the Red Man, we find. At Watonga, Okla., the post office boasts a flashy new mural painting, depicting the Cheyenne Indians of Roman Nose Canyon as of many, many decades ago.

     Alas, the Cheyennes are not pleased. They are so displeased by the WPA or possibly PWA version of their forebears that they have formed a picket line with placards proclaiming:

     “Post office mural unfair to Cheyenne Indians.” 

     Although their picket line is a streamlined innovation, reminiscent of the mundane quarrels of white men in search of the more abundant life, the Cheyennes base their campaign on purely artistic considerations.

     Chief Red Bird, leader of the picketing tribe, does not speak the white man’s language. But through an interpreter named Yellow Eyes, he has told with aboriginal economy of words why the mural is unfair.

     “Picture not like Roman Nose. Chief wears feathers farther back on head, not tied on with store-bought string. Breechclout too short, look like Navajo. Ponies Indians riding look like hobby horses with swan necks. Cheyennes like spotted ponies. Our Chief Roman Nose wearing Navajo clothes. No good. It stinks.”

     This leaves little of merit in the mural. The deepest insult in many seems to be the artist’s confusion of Cheyennes with Navajos. Perhaps, if they knew the lingo of industrial disputes, the aborigines on the picket line would admit theirs is a jurisdictional stroke. We look forward with interest to the intervention of the National Labor Relations Board, and a vote among the Cheyennes to determine who, if anybody, is their bargaining agency. 

1941, June 21 The Cincinnati Enquirer