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| C. F. Cline with Arapaho Chief in in Colorado Springs, Colorado - 1949. |
My brother C. F. Cline was a Boy Scout and was always an admiring of Native Americans. On a trip to Colorado in 1949, the family stopped to eat at a restaurant where there were several tourist type exhibits in the same area. When we came out of the restaurant from eating, C. F. saw a "real live Indian" nearby. The sign said "Your picture taken with an Arapaho Chief - 50¢." That was a good bit of money for a photograph in 1949, but C. F. didn't stop until our Dad agreed to let him have his picture taken with the older Arapaho Indian. We had the old chief's name at one time, but I have no idea where to look for it. According to C. F., the Boy Scouts had a level called the Order of the Arrow. Supposedly there were tough requirements to be nominated for the Order of the Arrow, and scouts took it quite seriously. The best I recall, Boy Scouts used the language and their version of the "Indian culture" in the Order of the Arrow ceremony. I believe he saw it once while attending summer camp and was always intrigued with Native Americans ever since that summer. He blessed us by telling us all about it for many miles. Anytime we stopped to eat or visit a historic site, C. F. showed that photograph to everyone he met, and he talked about Indians and their culture for most of the trip back home.
Eight people in close quarters with one of the passenger talking about a single subject mile after mile did get on our nerves. I was sure glad to have the "ViewFinder" and slides we bought at the Garden of the Gods to look at when C. F. was showing his big chief photo. We did other things to help make the time go by when on the road, such as "count the states license plates" to see who could come up with twenty-five different state licenses first. You had to write them down too. Since I had not gone to school and couldn't write, I had my Mom writing down the states for me. My brother Gene said C. F. added plates of cars that did not exist. The trip taught me the world was a lot bigger than Sikeston, Missouri. Overall, it was an enjoyable vacation.
The Arapaho were a tribe of Native Americans historically living on the plains of Colorado and Wyoming. They were close allies of the Cheyenne tribe. There were two different branches of Arapaho. When the American government forced them into reservations, the tribe members that primarily lived in Wyoming were sent to a reservation in Montana. The Southern Arapaho, mostly residing in Colorado, was transferred to an Oklahoma reservation. Today, the Southern Arapaho live with the Southern Cheyenne in Oklahoma.
From the picture of C. F. and his Indiana friend, you can see that not all Arapaho were captured and forced into a reservation. We saw twenty or so Arapaho when we traveled around Colorado. I thought they were very handsome with their high cheekbones and pronounced noses. I regret that the White man failed to honor its treaties with the Native Americans so they could have remained on the land where they were born. That is in the past, let us today respect each other for who we are and try to get along with the blessings of diversity. America is a better country for the diversity of her people. I wish I could hear C.F. talk about our trip to Colorado one more time, but that is not possible now.
Eight people in close quarters with one of the passenger talking about a single subject mile after mile did get on our nerves. I was sure glad to have the "ViewFinder" and slides we bought at the Garden of the Gods to look at when C. F. was showing his big chief photo. We did other things to help make the time go by when on the road, such as "count the states license plates" to see who could come up with twenty-five different state licenses first. You had to write them down too. Since I had not gone to school and couldn't write, I had my Mom writing down the states for me. My brother Gene said C. F. added plates of cars that did not exist. The trip taught me the world was a lot bigger than Sikeston, Missouri. Overall, it was an enjoyable vacation.
The Arapaho were a tribe of Native Americans historically living on the plains of Colorado and Wyoming. They were close allies of the Cheyenne tribe. There were two different branches of Arapaho. When the American government forced them into reservations, the tribe members that primarily lived in Wyoming were sent to a reservation in Montana. The Southern Arapaho, mostly residing in Colorado, was transferred to an Oklahoma reservation. Today, the Southern Arapaho live with the Southern Cheyenne in Oklahoma.
From the picture of C. F. and his Indiana friend, you can see that not all Arapaho were captured and forced into a reservation. We saw twenty or so Arapaho when we traveled around Colorado. I thought they were very handsome with their high cheekbones and pronounced noses. I regret that the White man failed to honor its treaties with the Native Americans so they could have remained on the land where they were born. That is in the past, let us today respect each other for who we are and try to get along with the blessings of diversity. America is a better country for the diversity of her people. I wish I could hear C.F. talk about our trip to Colorado one more time, but that is not possible now.
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