1969: In one businessman's PR stunt - he managed " in a short paragraph to ridicule Indian names, customs, and literacy, while perpetuating degrading, false stereotypes of the American Indians." In reply, Petley said, "The artist who composed this regarded it primarily as harmless humor, intending no offense or ridicule of the American Indian.
'Honorary Injun chief'
loses feathers
Indignant Indians on warpath,
scalp Phoenix businessman
by Ben Cole
1969 Sept 27 Arizona Republic
Washington - Indignant Indians have successfully protested to a Phoenix businessman that a "certificate" making the holder an "Honorary Injun Chief" is offensive to their race.
But the organization of original Americans failed when it tried to ahve the picture of a famous Indian chief taken out of a Scottsdale tavern window.
Robert Petley, of Petley Studios in Phoenix, has promised the National Council of American Indians that he will withdraw the just-for-fun certificate from publication.
The NCAI protested to Petley after receiving a letter from Mike Caravello of San Francisco calling attention to the certificate.
The text of the certificate, which the NCAI found offensive, said:
The text of the certificate, which the NCAI found offensive, said:
"Ugh! Him come to Injun country, pay much wampum for Injun relics and curios, drink much firewater, blowum much smoke, do ceremonial dances in roadside, teepees, we make-um:
"Honorary Injun chief. Him just hunt, loaf and fish now. Squaw do all work, cookum meals, bring moccasins and pipe, pour firewater. Many papooses Ugh! Much good! Him now named Chief Spotted Lived.
"(Signed) Sitting Skunk, Chief Stinker, Sitting Coyote, Chief Howler, Sitting Bear, not gottum clothes, Sitting Duck, catchum many arrows."
The NCAI in protesting to Petley Studios said, "To be perfectly frank, we see nothing humorous about this highly offensive document, which manages in a short paragraph to ridicule Indian names, customs, and literacy, while perpetuating degrading, false stereotypes of the American Indians."
In reply, Petley said, "The artist who composed this regarded it primarily as harmless humor, intending no offense or ridicule of the American Indian. However, since as you suggest, it possibly creates a false image of the American Indian, we will immediately cease publication of this certificate."
The NCAI Sentinel also reported failure of the descendants of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker to have the famous warrior's picture removed from a Scottsdale tavern window.