Like so many other liberals in this country, you've embraced the "plight of the Indians" and are trying to make a name for yourself as being some sort of authority on anything that's Indian without even bothering to consult Indians who are not into seeking to simply attain celebrity status. In fact, not only have you unanimously decided what this "plight of the Indians" consists of, now you even attempt to browbeat us lowly injuns into accepting that your personal assessment of what our problems are supposed to be is to become our gospel. Rob, I hate to burst your bubble, but your kind comes a dime a dozen. Between liberals like you and a number of Indians who're merely trying to gain celebrity status constantly piping up, it's little wonder that nobody gives the true representatives of our individual nations the time of day when they have something of value to communicate. Hell, our Elders get constantly drowned out by the likes of you when they try to say something.

I don't think there's another group of people in the world that has to literally fight off all these self-appointed defenders of what's claimed to be our causes and has to shout over such an army of self-appointed clueless spokespeople for them as the American Indian nations. Somehow Anglo-arrogance doesn't even permit us for one minute to establish for ourselves what we consider an important issue and what not.

Dear Rob,

It's because of people like you, those who are white on the outside but red on the inside, that the contemporary indigenous person has a chance.

It's called brotherhood and if we are to survive, all races of the medicine wheel must work together.

I consider you as much of a brother as those up in Alaska with the blood flowing in their veins.

This guy is one of those who we might call a "shithead."

I think that what you are doing with Blue Corn is fantastic.

Thank you,

Morning, Pumaclaw:

You and I have corresponded on occasion over the years. I've carried things you wrote on my Indian News and Issues list?

I've read your letter to Rob Schmidt, which took me aback a bit. I've been dealing/working, one on one with Rob for maybe 8 years. I've never met him personally, but we have had a phone conversation or 2, I know some of the folks he knows—etc.

Rob is not Indian, never claimed to be. Never spouts an "Indian name"—never claims to be an oracle or the final word. He has always been an advocate for the American Indian struggle—has taken on some pretty mean characters—

He has a plethora of consultants, friends, acquaintances, some of them very heavy hitters—who ARE Indian, tribal, Elder, educated, published, known by name—to whom he turns for input, advice, correction and criticism. I am among them—although Creator knows, I am no one in particular, find out every day just how much I DON'T know.

Rob is well educated, with both Undergraduate and Graduate degrees, from what others have said, I suspected, a genius I.Q.—with a decent dose of common sense—the latter 2 not always going hand in hand, unfortunately.
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If you haven't familiarized yourself with Rob's Peace Party, other writings, and seen the high esteem in which he is held by many Indian people, I suggest you do so.

He hasn't set out any criteria for Indian-ness that I am aware—the phony baloneys work over time at doing that one. siiiiiiigh.

And, Rob's opinions of anything, Disney or otherwise, or like yours, mine—personal opinions, with which folks can agree, disagree, or ignore. My writings seems to fall more in the last 2 categories—which is why I dubbed myself "Firehair-no fun at all."

When one considers the phonies, the outright lies and culture/identity theft, going on in Indian country—the self named, the self proclaimed—chiefs, medicine people—sellers of spirituality, ceremonies, cards, you name it—

Rob Schmidt should be a last resort target of anyone's vitriol. IMHO

Hope things are well with you—