Apesanahkwat

Last updated
Apesanahkwat
Born
Apesanah Apsanahkwat

(1949-01-19) January 19, 1949 (age 75)
Occupation(s) Actor; former tribal Chairman of Menominee tribe (8 terms)
Years active1985–present
SpouseKristine Poafpybitty-Apesanahkwat(dates unknown)
Children2, names unknown

Apesanahkwat (born January 19, 1949) is a Native American tribal leader, activist, father, and a film and television actor.

Contents

Apesanahkwat served as tribal chairman of the Menominee Indian Reservation eight times. He served in the United States Marine Corps and is a Vietnam War veteran. He is known for playing American Indian roles in such films and television series as Wind River , Northern Exposure , Stolen Women, Captured Hearts , Bagdad Cafe , and Babylon 5 . He has competed in various Powwows across the United States as a northern traditional dancer.

Involvement in Native American Politics

Contribution as Menominee Chairman

Apesanahkwat has been nominated as the Menominee Nation’s chairman a total of eight times. On one of these occasions, Apesanahkwat was reelected after serving in prison for six months, for an alleged drug problem. As chairman, Apesanahkwat has actively spoken several times about injustices Indian tribes face. One of these times being in 1989, during a rally at Lac du Flambeau where he protested against racism towards indigenous groups. As chairman, Apesanahkwat has also presented the Menominee tribe at a congress level, such as the "Indian Tribal Conflict Resolution, Tort Claims and Risk Management Act of 1998." [1]

Activism

On March of 2004, Apesanahkwat was the official key note speaker at the Language and Culture Preservation Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico which was hosted by the Bureau of Indian Affair's Office of Indian Education Programs (OIEP). This event was meant to spread awareness of the importance of preserving Indian culture though language. Being the keynote speaker, Apesanahkwat called to action his community, stating the importance of giving back the Indian people their voice. Apesanahkwat is also known to be one of the originators of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act(GRA). [2]

Military History

Vietnam War

Apesanhkwat was twenty years old when he entered the Vietnam War. After the war ended, Apesanahkwat suffered from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). After his traumatic experiences at war, he reconnected with his indigenous roots as a form of healing. When discussing his thoughts on war, Apesanahkwat says he believes that no man should have to experience it. Since Vietnam, he has been an active voice for his community as a supporter for PTSD awareness. [3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Bagdad Cafe Sheriff Arnie
1994 Sioux City Clifford Rainfeather
2001Lady in the BoxFelix
2004The ReawakeningHenry Johnson / Dark Spirit Being
2005The Rain MakersJoe Crying Eagle
2010NightbeastsLouis Freebirdas Apesanahquat
2017 Wind River Dan Crowheart

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Tall Tales & Legends InterpreterEpisode: "Annie Oakley"
1993 Harts of the West AndrewEpisode: "Auggie's End"
1993-1995 Northern Exposure Lester HainesRecurring role; 5 episodes
1994Gunsmoke: One Man's JusticeSix EyesTelevision film
1994-1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Raymond FirewalkerGuest role; 3 episodes
1995 Babylon 5 Telepath #1Episode: "A Race Through Dark Places"
1995SiringoChinoneroTelevision film
1995 CBS Schoolbreak Special ElderEpisode: "My Indian Summer"
1996 Goode Behavior Chief Steve DavisEpisode: "Goode Samaritan"
1997 Stolen Women: Captured Hearts Bloody KnifeTelevision film
1997 North of 60 Senator Jack HarperEpisode: "Love Hurts"
2002 Skinwalkers Captain ButlerTelevision film
2004 Helter Skelter Guard Duty CopTelevision film
2015 Longmire Cheyenne ManEpisode: "Down by the River"
2016 Ray Donovan WovokaGuest role; 2 episodes

[4]

Notes

  1. Menominee Chairman
  2. Activism
  3. Vietnam War
  4. Films

Related Research Articles

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that develops from experiencing a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats on a person's life or well-being. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in the way a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response. These symptoms last for more than a month after the event. Young children are less likely to show distress, but instead may express their memories through play. A person with PTSD is at a higher risk of suicide and intentional self-harm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montagnard (Vietnam)</span> Indigenous people of the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Montagnard is an umbrella term for the various indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The French term Montagnard ( ) signifies a mountain dweller, and is a carryover from the French colonial period in Vietnam. In Vietnamese, they are known by the term người Thượng, although this term can also be applied to other minority ethnic groups in Vietnam. In modern Vietnam, both terms are archaic, and indigenous ethnic groups are referred to as đồng bào or người dân tộc thiểu số. Earlier they were referred to pejoratively as the mọi. Sometimes the term Degar is used for the group as well. Most of those living in the United States refer to themselves as Montagnards, while those living in Vietnam refer to themselves by their individual ethnic group.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribal sovereignty in the United States</span> Type of political status of Native Americans

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Menominee, also spelled Menomini is an endangered Algonquian language spoken by the historic Menominee people of what is now northern Wisconsin in the United States. The federally recognized tribe has been working to encourage revival of use of the language by intensive classes locally and partnerships with universities. Most of the fluent speakers are elderly. Many of the people use English as their first language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian reservation</span> Land managed by Native American nations under the US Bureau of Indian Affairs

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References

1. "War to a Warrior - a journey home"

2. "Green Bay Press-Gazette 19 Apr 1997, page Page 1" Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21

3. "Indigenous Education Columns" jan.ucc.nau.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-22.

4. "Indian Tribal Conflict Resolution and Tort Claims and Risk Management Act of 1998" Retrieved 2023-03-05