© Herald Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library
Click photo to view larger image and slide show.

December 24, 1940. Original newspaper caption: "Two Indians who will take part in a symbolic ceremony transferring title of Arroyo Seco to the white man are shown with officials picking a site for the event, which will be held in conjunction with the Arroyo Seco Parkway dedication next Monday.

Left to right: Amerigo Bozzani, state highway commissioner; White Dove, of Cherokee tribe; Frank B. Clouch, South Pasadena city manager, and Chief Tehachewee, of the Kawie Indians that once made their home in the Arroyo Seco."

The male "American Indian" depicted to the far right of this historical photograph wearing the Eagle Feather Headdress and described as "Chief Tehachewee" is actually "Chief Tahachee" who was born "Jeff Davis Tahchee Cypert" on 4 March 1904 in James Mill, Arkansas and died 9 June 1978 in San Gabriel, California. "Chief Tahachee" was an American-born, Old Settler Cherokee, who was a stage-performer, silent-and-sound motion picture actor, stuntman, expert horseman, circus and wild west show entertainer, contortionist and fire-walker. "Chief Tahachee" also worked as a make-up artist, costume designer, and directed a few motion pictures.

"Chief Tahachee" did in fact take part in the "symbolic ceremony" described in the Herald Examiner's caption transferring title of the land of the Arroyo Seco area and he also assisted with the selection of an appropriate site for the ceremony. This ceremony included many officials and dignitaries including the Governor of California.

"Chief Tahachee" and "White Dove" were both Cherokees and were part of a much larger group of American Indians from around the country who took part in the ceremony. "Chief Tahachee" was involved in many other community events and projects in California and in-and-around the City of Los Angeles. There are many other magazine and newspaper articles regarding this historic event with photographs of "Chief Tahachee" with other dignitaries.

"Chief Tahachee" was an Old Settler Cherokee not a "Kawie" Indian. The article incorrectly describes "Chief Tahachee" as a "Kawie" Indian. "Chief Tahachee" is also described as a Kawia/Kawias Indian in his book Poems of Dreams. This is also incorrect. An editor's mistake I would guess. There is a great bio of "Chief Tahachee" on IMDb.com and Wikipedia.org. I am doing research on this American Indian actor/activist and trying to locate other newspaper articles, photographs so I can verify more of his activities. I know the aforementioned information is true because I am his youngest son.

This is a supplement to my previous comment regarding this historic photograph. The American Indians who inhabited the Arroyo Seco were not "Kawie" Indians. I am not an American Indian expert but I am sure you will find with a little research that the American Indians of the "Shoshone" language group known as Hahamog-na, Tongva and Gabrieleno are the American Indians who inhabited this historic Arroyo Seco area. I believe they are all part of the same family of Indians.