# Crying Italian Indian **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 30, 1999, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138 "1999-08-30T23:19:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/21 "2002-04-26T21:51:56Z")
Now that we’ve had a point/counter-point, shot and retaliation, I feel the situation is “even” and I hereby remind BOTH samclem and Mr X that comments about other posters have no place in this forum. In this forum, we discuss the Staff Reports; comments about the character, history, or foibles of other posters is not appropriate. Samclem: a poster’s ethnic background is not relevant. Period. Mr X: a poster’s mental capacity is not relevant. Question mark. If you want to call each other names, do it in the BBQ PIT forum. Discussion here sticks to the questions of Mr Cody, evidence, implications, lack of evidence, and so forth. All cool? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/22 "2002-04-27T14:46:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr.X \* > \*\*Here’s the closest I could find to a film reference: > [http://www.lariat.org/AtTheMovies/backtocountry.html](http://www.lariat.org/AtTheMovies/backtocountry.html) > > It’s a Canadiam film, and while it’s noted on multiple websites, none of them have a list of film locations. Not surprising there, since that sort of thing usually isn’t mentioned in film reviews. I doubt that information is even available anymore, unless it’s listed (and still legible) somewhere on the film itself. > \*\* According to the IMDB, the 1919 version of the film was shot in 3 places…Kernville, California, the Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta, and San Francisco Harbor. [http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0009900](http://us.imdb.com/Locations?0009900) The IMDB also seems to believe the story that he was of Italian descent. [http://us.imdb.com/Name?Cody,+Iron+Eyes](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Cody,+Iron+Eyes) I’ve e-mailed the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma asking if they any official statement regarding Mr. Cody’s ancestory. If they get back to me, I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/23 "2002-11-23T23:37:35Z")
And now [Barbara Mikkelson](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/ironeyes.htm) expresses her conclusion. She almost always does the research before printing. So one more nail in the coffin. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/24 "2002-11-24T08:08:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*And now [Barbara Mikkelson](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/ironeyes.htm) expresses her conclusion. She almost always does the research before printing. So one more nail in the coffin. \*\* I would also point to [Ms. Mikkelson’s article](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/ironeyes.htm), as she not only does the research, but provides several cites and references. Whether you choose to believe them is up to you. But it does seem to suggest that **Euty’s article** , while poorly written and full of typos, is in fact correct. Oh, and by the way, the quote **Dexter Haven** provides should read: "This is the west, sir. **When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."** - From _The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance_ ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/25 "2002-11-25T15:05:15Z")
Thanks, Leander. What I get for quoting from memory. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/26 "2002-11-25T18:49:13Z")
Note that Cody and his wife _adopted_ their two Indian sons. Hence, the sons’ (biological) Indian heritage comes from neither parent. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/27 "2002-11-25T21:52:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by leander \* > \*\*Euty’s article, while poorly written and full of typos \*\* Always good to have a fan. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/28 "2002-11-25T23:50:22Z")
I’m a fan of anyone who takes the time and energy out of their busy lives to help others. But I also call it like I see it. The point was, of course, that you were correct. Ugh, too many fragile egos around here. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/29 "2002-11-26T00:30:13Z")
**Euty** Yeah! Starkist don’t want tunas with _good taste_. They just want tunas that _taste good_. \* \*Oh, those ads from my youth.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/30 "2002-11-26T00:36:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\ ***Euty** Yeah! Starkist don’t want tunas with _good taste_. They just want tunas that _taste good_. \* > > \*Oh, those ads from my youth.😃 \*\* Hey … what do you want? Good grammar or good taste? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/31 "2002-11-26T19:17:25Z")
Euty’s grammar is in very good taste, and so is his grampa. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/32 "2002-11-28T09:18:16Z")
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138/33 "2002-12-06T10:35:03Z")
It seems pretty conclusive. I was going to point out that the two sons were adopted, since nobody else seems to have noticed that in the article linked by **samclem**. I found it funny that **Mr.X** was citing obituaries as verification that Cody was really an Indian. Perhaps someone with knowledge could elaborate, but obits aren’t exactly striving for accuracy. Who wrote the obits? What sources did they use for his information? Publicity biographies, stating Cody’s version? What incentive would the writers have to verify info printed in other sources? Whereas **samclem** ’s link is a well-researched, in depth look. It includes interviews with relatives and friends. Admittedly there’s a lot of second and third hand content, but if the dots connect between Cody and his claimed brothers, and the brothers to the family in Louisiana, and the half-sister, then that clenches it. Snopes giving essentially the same story is supportive, but how much did Ms. Mikkelson verify herself, and how much rely on the other articles’ content? From the snopes article: > [@](#): > > The second was _Look_ magazine’s promotion of the ecology flag in its 21 April 1970, a symbol that was soon to become as prominent a part of American culture as the ubiquitous peace sign. Funny, that’s the first I’ve ever heard or seen of it. At least she had a link so I could see it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-italian-indian/1138.md?page=1)