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This author's earliest memories are of people on Santa Ysabel Reservation, San Diego County. He was born in Tucson, Arizona of Ootam (Opata) and Oklahoma (Wazazee) Osage heritage. Following Traditional, Military and G.I. Bill education he lives and works at the local University and colleges in San Diego County, California. He is honored to have been invited to teach college classes on the North County, Pala and East County, Viejas Indian Reservations. (Mazopiye Wichasha) Ben Nance is the americanindiansource.com Webmaster and he has help develop the Web site. He has also done web projects for San Diego Indian Human Resource Center and the American Indian Culture Center Museum. Along the way he has sung with American Indian northern and southern drum groups. Upon invitation he participates in singing local Birdsongs with Ron Christman's group. These past several years he's attended, DQ University-Sycuan, Tribal culture classes. He grew up in the
Burbank area. His family moved there from Oklahoma before he was born.
His Father worked for Columbia Studios. While very young he got involved
with Fred Gabourie and a dance group that put on American Indian performances
throughout the L. A. area. He often was featured in the Horsetail Dance
that was popular in that 1950 era. Fred also deepened his cultural experiences
by taking him to Pow wows around the Los Angeles area. Later on, being
near the studios and the Boy Scouts, he worked with the late Iron Eyes
Cody and his son 'Tree' Cody. He continued to be part of dance groups
through High school. Following High school graduation he attended Chico
State College. During this same period he pursued experience with the
US Forest Service Fire Crews for five seasons. After graduating from
SDSU he taught sciences in Chula Vista - South Bay High Schools. American
Indian Life and culture has been a lifelong association. When his son
was growing up Ben introduced him to similar American Indian cultural
experiences and together they danced at Pow wows throughout Southern
California. |