For example, here is an important article by Russ Tall Chief: Rescue “Dawn” (June, 2012).

And here is an example of a short video clip from the movie and score:

Myers has brought together the event on the suggestion of Wes Studi, who saw the film and heard the music (for which I was the commissioned composer) at the Oklahoma City Dead Center Film Festival earlier this summer, June 10, 2012.  Due to the last minute arrangements, the announcement of the Santa Fe showing does not appear on the related web sites–which were prepare weeks ago.

According to Myers, the film will be accompanied by speakers like Comanche Elder Geneva Navarro, and Oklahoma Historical Society director Dr. Bob Blackburn, who will offer educational comments during the film, as the sound track will be lowered.  This is a unique sort of screening, and expertly educational. The audience will learn all sorts of historical information about the film, with a sort of ‘play by play’ commentary.  I hope that event in itself is filmed.  It will be extraordinary.

L to R: Chad Burris, Aurora Guerrero, Bird Runningwater, and Jhane Myers.

The fact is, the film and its sound track (my symphonic score) are a work in progress.  The synchronization is more or less complete, but there are some orchestral parts yet to be recorded (by the Oklahoma City University Philharmonic).  I have not yet completed my work with John Cross, the sound engineer, either.  In addition, the movie text (the words which appear periodically throughout the film) will be restored to the early 20th century type font style, which is more appropriate.  There are many details in the restoration of a silent film.  Composing an eighty minute score for full orchestra was just one of them.

Plans for the future of the film are evolving.  Showings at major film festivals in the world, such as Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, etc., are prominent goals.  Interestingly, as the composer, I must point out that this is simply publicity for me.  I receive no royalty from any theatre showing, or festival showing.  I receive royalties only when the music (and or film) is broadcast radio or television, or when the music is performed live (with or without the film showing).  Therefore, there are essentially two separate business avenues involved.  They surely overlap, but, they are separate, as far as money goes.

BadEagle.com will try to keep everyone informed of showings as they are schedules.  The appearance of the film at the Sante Fe Indian Market was not scheduled until last week.  I spoke directly with Jhane Myers yesterday, so today’s announcement is the best I can do on this particular event.  Special thanks to Wes Studi for his encouragement in this matter!  And thank you, Jhane Myers for working it out.

L to R:  Oklahoma State Historical Society Director Dr. Bob Blackburn, Jon Yeagley (my brother), David Yeagley, and Wes Studi, at the June 10, 2012 first showing of “Daughter of Dawn” at the Oklahoma City Dead Center Film Festival.

(My ComancheMedia partner Nick Tahchawwickah and his mother, along with his wife, were among the many Comanches present at the June 10 showing in Oklahoma City.  Nick’s mother and father are among the most ancient and honorable of the Comanche today.)

Today, June 11, 2012, a number of people appeared at the complex, including the former CBC 6. They assumed they would resume their offices. Instead Wallace Coffey met with them in the old conference room, in the presence of the group of tribal members who had come. This began shortly after 8:00 AM. As Chairman, Coffey would not recognize the former CBC as holding office. More details to come.   This evening look for ComancheMedia Ustream broadcast beginning around 7:OO PM http://www.ustream.tv/channel/comanche-nation-general-council-meeting-2010

 IBC bank and Thomas L. Travis, President and CEO of IBC-Oklahoma, and the recalled Comanche Business Committee members, Edward Eschiti – Robert Tippeconnie – Robert Komahcheet – Ronald Red Elk – Yonevea Terry – Darrell Kosechequetah,    have placed many members of the Comanche Nation in an unstable position. By freezing the tribe’s account at the bank, IBC representatives and the recalled CBC members are harming the tribes’ ability to provide essential services to the tribal

members who need it. Unfortunately the IBC bank is listening to the recalled CBC members who were legally recalled by Tribal Council voters. IBC is involving itself with tribal politics by sending a letter to the Comanche Nation Chairman asking him to sign the letter recognizing the recalled CBC members as Tribal Representatives for the bank, in order to unfreeze the account. Recalled CBC member Robert Komahcheet said in the Lawton Constitution that, “the tribe accounts held at IBC Bank have been frozen since last Thursday or Friday. The freeze is implemented in hopes of negotiating.” However the Comanche Nation will not negotiate with anyone using aggression as a tool, to satisfy their own self interest. Despite the frozen account at the IBC bank, the Comanche Nation will continue to move forward with business as usual. Changes will be made in order to assist anyone who was affected by the actions of the IBC bank and the recalled CBC members. These changes will take time, so we ask everyone to please be patience and we want to apologize to anyone who was affected by this unwarranted force of negotiations by the recalled CBC members.

Chairman:  Wallace Coffey  56.23%

Vice-Chairman:  Run-off  Willie Owen 45.44%  Mac Mike Mahsetky 32.79%

Committee Member No. 1  Run-off Anita Daukai 33.38%  Charles Wells 37.58%

Committee Member No.2  Run-off Vernon Tehauno 33.81%  Sonya Navaquaya 39.8%

The petition to call for a special tribal council meeting is for the following purpose:

1. To remove Hobbs Straus Dean & Walker as tribal attorneys and hire another tribal attorney.

2. Due to lack of confidence in the performance of the gaming board the tribal council shall act to permanently remove the Comanche Nation Gaming Board and that the gaming board be replaced with a Gaming CEO.   The Tribal Council shall exercise its supreme authority to hire/remove the Gaming CEO during the Annual Tribal Council meeting.  The salary of the Gaming CEO shall be negotiable and shall be approved during the Annual Tribal Council meeting. The Gaming CEO shall oversee and control all non-regulatory aspects of the Nation’s gaming to include Executive Management.  The CEO shall ensure for maximum gaming revenue and in as much as possible practice Comanche Tribal preference in all levels of hiring/upgrading.  The Gaming CEO shall not violate applicable gaming laws or interfere with the Gaming Commissions’ regulatory authority.  The Gaming CEO shall publish an annual report of all gaming operation activities, expenses, audits and monies to include the Gaming Commission Budget.  Reports shall be provided to tribal members at an annual shareholders meeting and published in the tribal newspaper.  The Gaming CEO shall be under the direction of the business committee.  The business committee shall not act to circumvent the authority of the Tribal Council to suspend or remove the Gaming CEO.  The Comanche Nation Gaming Ordinance shall be amended where applicable to reflect this action.  The Chairman is hereby directed by the Comanche Tribal Council to take necessary action to immediately submit amended Gaming Ordinance to the NIGC for approval.  Upon approval of  amendments to the gaming ordinance by NIGC the tribal chairman shall immediately act to call a special tribal council meeting for the purpose of hiring a Gaming CEO.

3. To entirely rescind Resolution 150-11 and 53-05 and that the Tribal Council shall be responsible to appoint an Election Board Chairman who shall be responsible for the overall election process under the direction of the CBC.  The Election Board Chairman shall be responsible for administering the election process under a duly adopted election ordinance.  The Chairman of the Election Board shall be responsible for the appointment/removal of any/all of the 12 other board members with the approval of the CBC. The Election Board Chairman shall designate 2 board members from each of the 6 precincts within Comanche Tribal jurisdiction (Cache, Lawton , Apache, Walters, Anadarko and Oklahoma City ). The Election Board shall consist of an Election Board Chairman and 12 board members.  The Comanche Tribal Council shall reserve the supreme right to remove Election Board Chairman for neglect of duty or conduct that has brought disrepute upon the Comanche Nation.  The Election Ordinance shall be amended to reflect this action.  This action shall not be repealed without the expressed consent of the tribal council.  The Tribal Council shall appoint an Election Board Chairman immediately following the approval of this action.

4. To change the Comanche Nation College line item on the budget to Student Services Payments and increase the amount to $2,000,000 for the purpose of student payments in the amount of $500 for every school age tribal member (K-12) no matter where they reside to be paid in the month of October of every year in conjunction with a school fair to be held at Watchetaker Hall.  And that all assets, inventories, monies of the Comanche Nation College and its programs shall at this time revert back to the Tribal Government and that the building be converted to tribal offices such as Higher Education Program Offices, GED Program, Comanche Language and other appropriate community programs and services under the tribal government.  And that the CN College Council and its charter for all intent and purposes are hereby dissolved.

5. To put the Indian Churches back on the budget in the amount of $250,000.

6. To amend the tribal budget and call for a special election for final approval of amended budget.

7. To direct the CBC to immediately seek special consideration and approval from the US government to provide government food commodities to Comanche Tribal members and members of other tribes residing in Lawton, Oklahoma in order to reduce hunger among Native Americans.