Frontierland's "Rivers of America" is all about the scenery; and back in the old days, there were more Indians to be found along the way.
Over to our left is the Indian Village that the public could access (via a tunnel next to the train tracks). This is where you might watch Indians from various tribes doing their traditional dances, or where you could catch a canoe. I think the Keel Boats launched from there as well.
There's our pal, Chief Wavy! Notice that he has quite a group of warriors to back him up, further up the hill. Just in case! Seems like a wise idea.
Aaaaaand, you know it, you love it, the Friendly Indian Village. This is where peaceful and industrious people grind corn, scrape hides, dry meat, and (in that kid's case) stand on overturned canoes and watch the steamboats go by.
I always wanted to paddle the canoe over to the shore, step out and walk around the Friendly Indian Village. Never happened.
ReplyDeleteAnd where exactly were the unfriendly Indians? Did they actually show them or was it implied by the slain settler?
You left out another highly-visible activity in the Friendly Indian Village - papoose-drying.
ReplyDeleteChief Wavy is channeling his inner Teddy Roosevelt; he waves in friendship, but he's got a "big stick" just up the hill.
K. Martinez, me too! I would dress in a costume too, so when the Mark Twain passed by, I would just stand still. Yes, I think the unfriendly Indians were more implied than shown, though the guys up on the hill behind the chief don't necessarily look so friendly.
ReplyDeleteChuck, oh I never forget the baby jerky! See my 2008 post that mention it here! Also, maybe the warriors in the second photo are just having fun "photo bombing" the Chief.
@K Martinez, re: unfriendly indians.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, they were referred to mostly in the scripts of the various boats as being located on the island, of course the settler's cabin and Bill's new Arrow shirt were pointed to as signs of their activity.
I seem to remember some teepees on the island coming into view as the end was rounded, but not certain if there was ever a figure. The old explorer maps showed a cluster of teepees marked "Indian Territory" and mentioning a treaty prohibiting entry. Daveland has an example posted. Perhaps an unvoiced subtext here is that poor old Bill got his comeuppance for building in violation of that treaty?
This legend was carried out on the island with warning signs on the fenced-off backstage area north of the fort. The signs noted something like "no trespassing - treaty violation". This was to keep guests from roaming out to the burning cabin and the static animal figures.
It also made the fort plausible, it was needed to police the frontier of the unfriendly tribes, hence all those muskets in the blockhouses.
Good times.
JG
@JG -
ReplyDeleteI remember the "no trespassing" signs and I do remember looking at an older map of Disneyland I had when I was a kid that showed a cluster of teepees labeled "Unfriendly Indians" on the northern part of TSI. Major's comment on "friendly Indians" made me think of that, but I don't ever remember seeing a cluster of teepees on the northern edge of TSI when cruising by on the various watercraft. I guess I missed it.
Thanks for the confirmation and extra info. Your comments make sense and do sort of tie it all together.
@JG -
ReplyDeleteI remember the "no trespassing" signs and I do remember looking at an older map of Disneyland I had when I was a kid that showed a cluster of teepees labeled "Unfriendly Indians" on the northern part of TSI. Major's comment on "friendly Indians" made me think of that, but I don't ever remember seeing a cluster of teepees on the northern edge of TSI when cruising by on the various watercraft. I guess I missed it.
Thanks for the confirmation and extra info. Your comments make sense and do sort of tie it all together.
Very nice picture of the Indian Village. Don't recall ever seeing a photo from that vantage point
ReplyDeletephotobombing Indians...love it!