The Whisper
The Indian Gossip Column
ANYTOWN OK
The Whisper 6/14/2005
http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=6615David Yeagley is a man on a mission, but it seems he is not what he claims to be: a Comanche Indian.
Yeagley, who longs to be the voice of conservative thought in Indian Country, has railed against those he accuses of being, dare we say it: a liberal. An Indian liberal for David's purposes is someone who supports, well, being Indian. Quite frankly, the Whisper has never quite figured out what Yeagley is for, but he is clear as mud what he is against. He seems to be against anyone more famous or liked than him. Of course that covers just about everyone, so he is fond of attacking every respectable Indian leader and policy of self-determination.
Yeagley seems to hate Indianness, if that's possible. He is called upon to give an alternative view to Indian positions. He has appeared on C-Span and given speeches at the National Press Club. The far-right wing of the lunatic fringe embraces him. He makes most respectable conservatives embarrassed that he sides with them. More than anything else he angers many Native Americans with these hateful tomes against Indian people. He does so by also noting he is Comanche Indian. He even claims lineage to famed Comanche Bad Eagle.
According to sources at the Comanche headquarters, David is not Comanche. His adopted mother is Comanche.
Did David know this when he applied to become a Kellogg Fellow in their Indian Leadership program? Does he owe them some money?
David released a CD titled "Awakening," of so-called Indian flute music. Is he in violation beyond basic ethics, or of federal laws regarding the marketing of arts and crafts by non-Indians? He says he is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation. It’s been said that the mark of a great con is detail. David has provided his family tree as proof of his Comanche blood. The trouble is, it’s not HIS blood he is listing.
David has also in recent years supported the continued use of Indians as mascots. At first the Whisper just thought he was just misguided and wrong, could it be he was a ringer for the right.
Several columnists recently have presented themselves as independent thinkers to advance conservative positions. Later it was revealed they took money from the Bush administration.
Is David one of these folks?
With the acquittal of Michael Jackson, we are reminded of another person who has altered his face to look like something else. Yeagley has gone through several cosmetic changes to appear more Indian.
Now we understand why he hates Indians: He's not one, and that makes the world a little saner. Later.
