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| Pow Wow! Wednesday, February 03, 2010 Carolea Hassard
If you were a kid, how would you like an Indian to visit your school campus? Any Springtown Elementary student can tell you that it’s just way beyond cool.
Last Friday, Kevin Browning, a Springtown resident descended from Comanche and Osage ancestors, brought his pony and his wolf pup to talk with students at SES.
To avoid sleet and freezing temperatures, Browning and school officials agreed to hold the event indoors – complete with the animals. Browning, dressed in full Indian warrior regalia, looked fierce enough to have walked right out of battle. His face was covered in startling red, white and black paint, and the palms of his hands were coated in red. He held a war spear taller than himself, and at his waist was a Bowie knife. Protecting his chest was a breastplate made of bone and beads, and hanging from his neck was a medicine bag.
Browning delighted the students by telling them that while old-time Indians might have used their medicine bags to store the ashes of their ancestors, “I keep my cell phone in mine,” he said. Browning is called “Puitamobi,” or “Eyes Like the Sky.” His horse, a leopard Appaloosa pony, is called “Many Spots.” The horse, too, sported symbolic paint, including yellow rings around the eyes (to sharpen sight), a red handprint on her rump (from blood shed by enemies slain in battle) and lightning bolts down the legs (to increase speed). Browning’s paint held several meanings, such as red for bloodshed, black for battle and white for new life. A snake running down one cheek represented the signal for Comanche, “those who want to fight all the time,” he said. A series of dots represented his children, and teardrops showed sadness for ancestors who have died. The wolf pup, “Shinock,” was rescued just months ago from Hwy. 199 east of Springtown. Browning’s partner, Leslie Faries, said the puppy wasn’t yet old enough to be weaned when he was found. “He’s a Canadian Arctic wolf,” she said. “A (Lakeside) vet said there are breeders here, and that his mother was probably killed.” The veterinarian tested the puppy and found no domestic canine blood, she added. Browning told students that Shinock has webbed paws, for running across the snow; bottom fangs that reach over the upper gum, for tearing meat and crushing bones; and scent glands in the tail for marking territory. “He’ll weigh 200 pounds when he’s full grown and stand taller than me” on his hind legs, Browning said. He added that wolves are not vicious animals. “They’d rather hide from you and not attack – your neighbor’s Chihuahua will attack you,” he said. “And you don’t adopt a wolf. They adopt you. You’re their pet.” Browning took the opportunity to dispel other myths perpetuated by Hollywood movies, such as the belief that Indians would burn settlers’ wagons. “They would make tipis out of the canvas from wagons,” he said. “They used everything.” Browning, a 53-year-old Kansas native, has lived in Springtown about three years. He is descended from a Comanche/German grandmother on his mother’s side and an Osage great-grandmother on his father’s side. A bronc rider and horse trainer, Browning had lived in Fort Worth for many years. However, the city bought the old Home Furniture building where he made his home, and in looking for a place for himself and his horses, he discovered Springtown. “I love it out there,” he said. “I love the area and I’ve met a lot of nice people.” After riding his last bronc in 1999, Browning started riding in a few parades dressed as an Indian. Using his skills with leatherwork, he made authentic elk-hide clothing, and his horses were already trained well enough to perform in front of crowds. “(The Indian image) wasn’t all out, but more Hollywood,” he said. “And people were going nuts. I couldn’t stop people from taking photos.” Then Fort Worth Stockyards officials asked him to participate in an Independence Day event and arranged for him to charge for portraits with eventgoers. After a few years, however, the relationship somehow soured. “I got run off from the stockyards,” he said. “After the Christmas holidays I wasn’t welcome anymore.” Among vague reasons, he said, officials told him the photo arrangement conflicted with other vendors who were doing old-timey portraits. “I’m devastated because I can’t work in the stockyards,” he said. “It was my weekend gig for three years.” Still, Browning has discovered other avenues for his new career, such as giving lectures and performing at schools and even parties, and having portraits made with folks attending special events. On Monday, he was doing just that at a Fort Worth stock show booth run by Texas Oak Furniture. He may even make it in the movies. Most recently, he auditioned for a part in the remake of True Grit. Browning also runs War Pony Productions, in which he provides large groups of horses for photo shoots. He owns 11 horses, including a mustang stallion. For details on hiring Browning for special events, email him at warponyprod@hotmail.com. |
