Eric Klemm

“Silent Warriors”:

"Micki" Free, father Chererokee, mother Comanche, is a Musician (flute
player) who won a Grammy Award. He lives in Florida where the Seminole
Indians own large Casino's which made many of them rich. I met Micki at the
American Indian Arts Celebration at the Big Cypress reservation in the
Everglades. He is an example of the proud and self confident Indian and his
magic and most beautiful portrait became one of my favorite images.

Well off as well is the 16 years old "Kasey", from the Chererokee Nation of
Oklahoma. His father is a radio host. The whole family worked to assemble
his wonderful traditional dress (regalia) of a so called "Dog Soldier". His
headdress is made of turkey and eagle feathers. They told me that among
Kasey's ancestors was the famous "Sitting Bull". Kasey studies at the
university.

"Dark Feather Moon" from the famous Lakota Sioux has served in World war II
and in the Korean War. He has four kids, his nickname is "Talksalot". He now
is 84 years old and still runs a shop for Native arts and crafts.

I photographed the portrait of "Robert" from the Tewa tribe, New Mexico,
right beside of his parents home, who kindly invited me for lunch. He is
from a well doing middleclass family and the Tewa village of San Juan is a
lovely place to be. Ones again a large Casino near by seems to be the reason
for a newly regained pride and wealth.