2 U Whom It May B Concerned!

It's way 2 funny, way 2 past 2 say, "I wasn't there, I didn't do anything!" 

If I have 2 hold ur hand from running ur zeig-hail flag 2 the king, then look with ur eyes mom and dad, & open 'em.  I do 4 sho, my parents would b at a loss and then pissed off at people who jus' wanna kil,cil,kkkiiill any way we/they/r doin'!  No excuse!!  U can't negoiate w/ terriorists...Hannity!????  We Natives, the one and only Real Native Americans, know HOW THE PHEAK U ALL, yes the 'merican gov.,KEEP UR WORD!!   (Good jumpin' joesph-fatz U don't even know ur Euro-Peon langauges or songs! Yet U can say Nevada, Minnesota, Alabama and I bet U don't even know what they mean or what tribe they b-long 2, ignorant mofo!)  Ur right if they (U) can't speak r language then U can't b a real 'merican!! Huh...Then U r a mighty desperate pilgrim 4 the despot! U and King George undermine the troops morale or the story.  (All methods r created equal...genocide, slavery, and Thomas Jefferson's masons and the pursuit of greed!)  Methods of Mass Deception.  I seen the funk, I know the funk and U Hannity r one phunked up elitest, and g'head let's say it, Facist, mamajama!  U undermine the moral of this story.  STOP COLONIZING THE WORLD AS IF II'S URS MOTHER...A-WHOLE!  Jus' had 2 get that out!  I'm sure there r tonz of flag worshippers who on Sunday pray 4 the troops, but not 4 the civilians who r b-in swept in2 oblivion.  War is Hell and if there was Profit in Peace Dick Cheany would b the CEO, w/ Bush-Ladin r the CFO's beeatch.  I'm not a liberal, commi, pinko or any one word label U love 2 trivilize people'un!  I live here and am from elders of this land and I see what the phunk is...goin' on!  I C U...I am an Intensive Care Unit dammit!!

Watch out 4 the Housequake...The Big Payback!

C

COCHISE 

Listen 2 The Insanity!!!

Man,...U know what?!...President Gereld R. Ford helped all those people who've been oppressed by foregin powers (Vietnam, 1st by the French) and made americans b-lieve, BUT NOT EVER IN THE SAME STRENGTH, that we r inherently good?  (0F COURSE SLAVERY AND GENOCIDE  aside.)    But he had 2 4give "pardon" a president who selected him b-cause the "vice" president had 2 step "down" cuz of f'n CORUPPTION muthafinance!!!.  C'mon...tough times or not we r not saying what Pres. Ford had 2 clean up.  Sooo...now that he's gone everyone's praisin' his spirit...but James Brown who saved this country during the Watts riots is already past.  James  was and will always b, the undisputable Godfather of Soul, The Hardest Working Man In Show Business...4  Fifty~50 years people!!  We need a State Funeral 4 the Man who was "friends" with All the preziz in b-tween.  Man...if U can't feel the strain or the real difference b-tween the gots and the nots...even Xcess Hollyweird still ruined by b-ing the lost master-race...then U can't see watt's comin'....The Big Payback.  (I Gave All My $ 2 The Preachers...NOW, I B-lieve all the Tele-Evangelists will get whats comin' 2 'em!!)

COCHISE

Vows Of Faith No Longer Require Illegal Tender~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

METHODS OF MASS DECEPTION

(We hear the sound of a radio dial being turned.  1^st a Gardening Show, then a Hating   Talk Radio Show, then  a 70's music station and then a Polka station and then the 1940's song, "Stardust," by Hoagy Carmicheal sung by Frank Sinatra and then…)

Announcer:  We interrupt this program 4 an important message from The Poet of the United States of Consciousness.

Ladies and Gentleman, The MadArtist…

My Fellow Human Beings,

This evening is a night that will live and then die in infamy.  4 when the dawn cums love's peace spark will ignite and we will b able 2 see everyone and everything as they r – a vital pro-ject, an important peace 2 the entire face of creativity, that continues 2 erase fear, bigotry, war, greed, an man's infernal coveting of others as "they' so we can take all "they" ever had.  Now don't b  mad.  We have counselors 4 those who will b or already r grieving 4 losing so very much.  (I FEMA ur pain.)  I've just signed my honor 2 a cue card "bill" named Wreck-con-silly-ation.  We r a strong peoples.  But now we must reach out… 4 it is about time we truly live as human beings and…

Announcer:  Ladies and Gentlemen we interrupt this program 4 an even more impotent message…

(Sounds of a violent wind and a voice in Spanish and in English at the same time yell "Land Ho!" and "Holy Shit, Iceberg!"  Sounds of massive waves 2 and afro.)

"Yo, Ho, Ho, Ho and a Frontal Lobotomy!"

U know we sailed on High & choppy sees, then

A crash in2 an Iceberg/Icon and we were bound

2 go down 2 the

Depths of blood-lusty greed.

4  r Love Boat (a Titanic of a republic)

We had 2 Klingon (Dammit Jim!...4ever Starstruck)

Cling on 2 hope in the night capt'n.

Now U b-lieve that this Unthinkable vessel will never

Give up?!  (Women & children 1^st?!)

O' God/Jehovah/Buddha/ Allah & the Holy Hey-Zeus-

Can U give U S…us… I mean ME Salve-ation or

A no bid contract on Redemption?

Kill-

The born babies and convert 2 pervert r greed as

Allah (pronounced: All of us) bleeds.

Holy Haliburton Badman! …as we go overboard…

Women and children 1^st,

Black and Browns next

O' yeah the red devils pay last

Pay  Plenty     Pay Pawlenty!

O' We-Owe-No-1:  (Again!!)  O' We-Owe No-1:  (Again??)

We r the only 1's!

We sit and watch the war

2 live & die over & o'er

R body lies o'ver the

Shouldn't we pick up the reasons why ?

Ya left, ya left, ya Left/Right left in the 1^st place.

Jobs & Education coming in last

'Merica  ALL WAYS had 2 b number won!

(Let's Chant!)     4 More Fears, 4 More Fears, vs. us vs.

Methods of Mass Deception vs.

WORSE CASE SCENARIO:

The Colonizing Expatriate Act.  (Or the pentagon pees it's pants…what a leak!)

It's the Life Boat

w/ Justice – The Skeleton Crew.  I- is -sick ur bartender!

PROLOGUE

A lie 4 a lie, can't U

See it's

The blind beating the blind

Violently b-hind door number won-?

STEP RIGHT/YA LEFT/RIGHT/LEFT/RIGHT UP

& pay

…no attention

M. Cochise Anderson

Election Night 2004

MadArtist Wordsongz @ 2006

Native Artist Star(t)s In The City

It was a long time ago when U still needed a subway token 2 get on the train.  When a young Native artist started by graduating from acting school on the Upper Westside.  He still had the dream of being an actor, getting roles based on his ability and not his appearance.  Yep, that sounds like me!  I remember going 2 meet an agent 4 the very 1^st time.  I remember him telling me how he was going 2 promote me as an "actor of color."  My heart fell.  Well that automatically cuts half of any auditions I thought I might get! Disheartening as it was at the time, my New York journey was 2 take me 2 a place I still consider 1 of my homes.

It was the fall of 1988 and I was struggling with finances as usual in the city.  One of my friends told me about the American Indian Community House which was on 14^th Street, down by Union Square.  I went 2 a performance by the Spider Woman Theatre and was milling around trying 2 tell anybody that would  hear, that I 2oo was an actor!  I remember the warmth and receptive people who would become my friends and mentors.  I kept coming back and ended up getting a job as the receptionist at AICH and got 2 meet and b a part of a burgeoning community, at least 2 my growing eyes.  I was encouraged by many artists 2 keep my enthusiasm, but know that it will b a challenge 2 have our voices heard.  The Spider Women, The Colorado Sisters and The Thunderbird American Indian Dance Theatre all took me in and taught me many different perspectives on the performing arts.  Lisa Mayo, Gloria and Muriel Miguel (Spider Woman Theatre) showed me how 2 have the drive 2 b heard and stand 4 ur rights as an theatre artist.   Vira and Hortensia Colorado, (The Colorado Sisters)  let me observe their process of telling their stories of personal and universal appeal.  The Thunderbirds gave me the confidence 2 b a storyteller and the space 2 learn the meaning of the drum.  (Real lessons 4 the mind, body and spirit!)   The two people who helped me with "real job" skills and therefore my very survival were the executive director Rosemary Richmond and the Public Relations director, Rudy Martin.  They promoted me 2 Public Relations assistant and taught me the ropes of how 2 promote our community within the mosaic that is New York.  I remember 1 of my assignments was 2 go 2 the Mayor's Office at City Hall and receive the Proclamation of Native American Month in New York City (September).  I felt proud 2 b part of our community when I held that piece of paper in my hands.  (We had respect!)  I was sent on many auditions during that time, including Dances With Wolves and Sun Of Morning Stars.  (But no cigar.)  So even as Native actors were being seen 4 Native roles, some of these auditions bordered on humiliation.  I remember going 2 a Bazooka Bubble Gum "go-see" and having 2 take my ponytail out and cross my arms and in my most Tonto voice say "Bazooka!"  I did get 2 meet Oliver Stone 4 a callback 4 the movie, The Doors – no cigar.  However, I was asked 2 do storytelling 4 the annual Thunderbird American Indian Dance Theatre, winter concerts.  I remember my good friends Matoaka Little Eagle and Louis Mosfie trying 2 convince me I could and should do it.  "Ur an actor right?  Well use ur acting skills when telling the stories and U won't feel lost onstage!"  I truly appreciated their patience and belief in my talent.

On the home front it was quite an eye opening experience.  I had moved from the cozy confines of the Upper Westside 2 the very edge of Hell's Kitchen, now know as Clinton.  It was 48^th Street and 11^th Ave. and U didn't go down that street at night unless U lived there.  (Or were looking 4 hookers and drug dealers.)  People knew who did and didn't live there and we looked out 4 each other.  I swear I could've only lived there as a young struggling artist then, but I do look back at it as a memorable time.  I had a very supportive girlfriend who believed in me and we had many friends 2gether and had great times.  I was also singing and playing blues harmonica in both the Double Trouble and Bulletproof Blues Bands with guitar legend Danny Draher and the soulful singer and the heart throbbin' bass player himself  Ellard "Moose" Boles.  Later on my friend Matoaka introduced me 2 Soni Moreno and Pura Fe.  In addition 2 Franc Menusan, Ken Littlehawk Andy Wounded Knee and Jeffery Carpentier we came 2gether as the group then called, Pura Fe.  (Now known as Ulali!)  It was a fabulous time where I learned so much from so many talented people.  I know that my career as a flute player would not b what it is 2day without the support and patience of these generous artists.  We traveled across the country and got 2 perform in Toronto Canada at the World Of Music Art and Dance, WOMAD.

However the struggle of the many fruitless and sometimes humiliating auditions had me thinking that no one is writing well thought out 3 dimensional characters who happen 2 b Native American!!  I mean I was still putting my mind around the fact that we can ONLY play race specific roles?!?!  So I performed in a couple of "actor showcases" presented by AICH in the hopes of getting an agent 2 see my abilities.  I also saw the talent of my fellow actors and thought, "Well why can't we create our own theatre pieces with the storylines that we want 2 talk about?"  So I asked Irene Bedard, Vickie Ramirez, Elisa Cato, Kim Bassett and Steve Elm if they wanted 2 commit 2 making a theatre company so we could perform in a place where we controlled how our images were expressed.  We collaborated with Curt Dempster at the Ensemble Studio Theatre where I had done a couple of shows b4 and we received a Nathan Cummings grant 2 create our very own one-act play, "In The Spirit."  It told the story of 6 young activists who are about 2 blow up the noses of the presidents on Mount Rushmore on Columbus Day.  The detonator is lost and it is feared that there is a sabatouer among themselves.  An intense investigation in2 Native identity ensues b4 the group reconciles and regains solidarity 4 their mission.  I am very proud of our effort as Chuka Lokoli (meaning community in Chickasaw and Choctaw) Native American Theatre Ensemble.  We had a lot of support from the Community House and the Ensemble Studio Theatre, and we got 2 blow the noses of the presidents 4 two weekends in a row!!

As time moved on so did the company including myself.  Some moved 2 the west coast, some stayed and others like me moved 2 the Midwest, Minneapolis 2 b exact.  It was and still is a challenging time 4 Native artists 2 b seen and heard in an honest and accessible manner.   In the end, I believe we endured and learned, and grew in our craft and our understanding of living in 2 very real worlds.  I still think that the acting opportunities in both film and theatre and television 4 Native artists is extremely limited.  There was a television show that was recently canceled called Love Monkey where 4 men with different careers met up and talked about their lives in the city.  (Kind of live a Sex In The City 4 dudes!)  Three were white actors, one black.  And they hung around the East Village.  U know,  in and around Houston Street.  And I thought, now why couldn't one of them b a Native?  Who happens 2 b a spoken word performance artist and musician!!  And I STILL keep asking, "Why not?  WHY NOT!"

M. Cochise Anderson

(M. Cochise Anderson-Chickasaw and Choctaw- is an actor, playwright, spoken word performance artist, traditional musician, blues musician, and Native American cultural arts educator who currently lives in Minneapolis.  He was most  recently seen in the national tour of the world premiere of William S. Yellowrobe Jr.'s play, "The Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers," presented by the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota and Trinity Rep. in Providence Rhode Island.  4 more information on this artist please go 2: www.Cochise-Okcha-a.com)