Nancy Classics by Ernie Bushmiller for June 07, 2024

On TV Westerns, there have been numerous examples of Native Americans taking on white men’s jobs—even in law enforcement!

By 1950s attitudes, Nancy seems to be a half-breed.

Pocahontas or Calamity Jane?

Try a Native American scout for the Cavalry – you get both!

Now Nancy has an idea how Tonto felt at times.

Most kids say cowboys and Indians.

“Half-breed” (sorry if that’s no longer politically correct)

These kids and their westerns.

Nancy wants to be both

The different nations have their individual police departments.

I grew up not far from Valentine, Nebraska – just a hop and a skip from the Rosebud Reservation. A number of famous tribal leaders had lived there. During the war, we raised Brahma cattle (They were drought resistant) and sold them to the Army for meat for the mess halls. Because gas was rationed, we didn’t put the cattle into a truck and transport them to the Army depot that way. Instead, we trail herded the cattle from our place to the Army depot. We hired boys from the Reservation to help us herd the cattle. Because gas was rationed, we didn’t worry much about running into any cars on the road – which were all dirt roads. So when we played Cowboys and Indians – we usually played at herding cattle. We rode stick horses, which had been personally whittled by my grandfather. Our “guns” had also been whittled out of wood. In those days, they were happy to tell you that they were AMERICAN Indians – a number of them had been in the service and were proud of their military records. During those days, President Roosevelt wrote personal letters to all the farmers and ranchers in the country, thanking them for the part they were playing in helping to win the war. According to historians, he PERSONALLY signed every letter himself! We still have the copy he sent to our Dad.