The recognition gained as an actor gives him the opportunity to help
important causes, as he is often called upon to narrate a video or show up at an
event. Currently, he and Chris are making a tape for an environmental group that
will be sent to all the tribal chairs, asking for a summit meeting to discuss
the issues of the government’s taking of tribal land and interference with
burial grounds. "It’s not a profit making venture, we’re doing it to get this
world, this society, turned around to another way of thinking, not all
materialistic". Saginaw’s husky voice got even quieter as he spoke of the
friction between the people. "No one is thinking about our children and
grandchildren," he said. "When we’re together we are not weak. We can be a
strong voice and make our views known". As a father of two and grandfather of
two girls, and many look to him as a grandfather, Saginaw is dedicated to teaching the younger ones the values and
traditions.
Saginaw, a grass dancer and traditional Southern straight dancer, attends powwows whenever he can. He is there not as an actor or lecturer or producer, but as a man praying to his Creator and losing himself in the expression of his gratitude. "Dancing is my way of expressing how I feel and keeping myself in balance. When I pray to the Creator I’m in my true identity". In the beginning, that’s why we danced - we were dancing for Him, for the people who couldn’t dance...the elders, and they enjoyed watching and listening to the drumbeats." Saginaw added that he could dance for hours without tiring and that it takes hours for the adrenalin in his body to come down when he leaves a powwow. "When I dance I get the same feelings that my elders and ancestors had, I’m in the same mode that they were when they talked to Him".
photo by Jeanette Acosta
Saginaw’s gift for public speaking has taken him on world-wide lecture tours that include conferences, college graduations, philosophical and religious organizations. In his quest for knowledge and understanding of the world, he has kept an open mind to other races and religions. An invitation from the controversial Reverend Moon to attend a meeting was welcomed. When approached by the Church of Scientology, he helped raise the funds needed to build the Narconon New Life Center in Oklahoma. Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, grew up with the4 Blackfeet in Montana and wanted to incorporate the sweat lodge into the rehab treatment. Many Hollywood stars and celebrities have taken this purification treatment to recover from addictions. Everything he does is for the people whether it be lecturing, the roles he plays, or the time spent on worthy endeavors such as the Indigenous Cultural Center to be built in Panama. This $100.000.000 project is now being built and will celebrate the indigenous peoples of North and South America.
In closing, I asked for Saginaw’s views on the stressful time we are in. "There is much to be done for the people but we still have time to correct all the things that have been done to us. Our people are more in charge of things like the gaming, and they are so successful that Gov. Grey is trying to get more money from them. More should be \written about the good that the casinos have done; they’re the biggest employer in San Bernardino county. Sycuan and Pechanga in San Diego feed all the homeless but no one hears about it. There are signs...earthquakes where they haven’t been before. We have to observe and try to understand these things that are taking place. We’ve injured our Mother so badly that she’s getting tired and if lose her, we lose life".