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Research Needed / Re: Lelooska Foundation - "Chief" Lelooska - Ariel, WA
« Last post by Sandy S on June 04, 2025, 10:52:53 am »This is a multi generational art and culture fraud by pretendian white people.
They began their fraud as hobbyists, selling tourist trade "Indian" art, and performing as "Indian" dancers. They've been at this for about sixty years now.
They are white people from Tennessee and Missouri who made their way across the country, landing in Oregon and then Washington. In 1950 census they are white. In all prior census and other records they are white, as are their ancestors.
Their claim that their matriarch Marilyn Jean Hinkle/Shona-hah is Cherokee from Oklahoma is false.
Core family:
Marilyn Jean Hinkle/Shona-hah Smith/Gray Dove
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/274352639/mary-smith
https://www.photoconsortium.net/100-portraits-women-artists-photographs-by-barbara-yoshida/
https://americanindian.si.edu/collections-search/object/NMAI_275094
married to Fearon Morris Smith Sr
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28784178/feron-morris-smith
They had four children:
Don Morris Smith / Chief Lelooska
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28784151/don-smith
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/northwest-coast-indians-demonstrate-their-crafts-at-museum-news-photo/837932638
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1331193-Chief-Lelooska
https://ciscosgallery.com/products/chief-don-lelooska-totem-af1990
Fearon Smith Jr / Smitty/ Chief Tsungani
https://blog.mcmenamins.com/chief-tsungani/
Patricia Louise Smith / Patty Fawn/ Patty Fawn-Cook
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/early-1960s-8x10-photo-chief-laluska-400646906
https://www.ebay.com/itm/127145947385
https://www.tribalexpressions.com/brands/artists/patty-fawn/
Patty Fawn-Cook has a daughter Leanne who uses the name Nakweesee as a supposed Native American artist.
https://www.adobegallery.com/artist/patty-fawn-and-nakweesee-cherokee-artisans
Richard Lee Smith
Search on most of these names and find their art all over the place, including in museums and as public carved totem poles.
Their operation in Ariel, Washington https://www.lelooska.org/ just scored a $12,000 grant for "the Lelooska Foundation Advertising and Outreach". https://www.klog.com/120000-awarded-in-2025-tourism-marketing-grants-to-boost-local-events-and-tourism-klog-100-7-news/
They began their fraud as hobbyists, selling tourist trade "Indian" art, and performing as "Indian" dancers. They've been at this for about sixty years now.
They are white people from Tennessee and Missouri who made their way across the country, landing in Oregon and then Washington. In 1950 census they are white. In all prior census and other records they are white, as are their ancestors.
Their claim that their matriarch Marilyn Jean Hinkle/Shona-hah is Cherokee from Oklahoma is false.
Core family:
Marilyn Jean Hinkle/Shona-hah Smith/Gray Dove
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/274352639/mary-smith
https://www.photoconsortium.net/100-portraits-women-artists-photographs-by-barbara-yoshida/
https://americanindian.si.edu/collections-search/object/NMAI_275094
married to Fearon Morris Smith Sr
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28784178/feron-morris-smith
They had four children:
Don Morris Smith / Chief Lelooska
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28784151/don-smith
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/northwest-coast-indians-demonstrate-their-crafts-at-museum-news-photo/837932638
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1331193-Chief-Lelooska
https://ciscosgallery.com/products/chief-don-lelooska-totem-af1990
Fearon Smith Jr / Smitty/ Chief Tsungani
https://blog.mcmenamins.com/chief-tsungani/
Patricia Louise Smith / Patty Fawn/ Patty Fawn-Cook
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/early-1960s-8x10-photo-chief-laluska-400646906
https://www.ebay.com/itm/127145947385
https://www.tribalexpressions.com/brands/artists/patty-fawn/
Patty Fawn-Cook has a daughter Leanne who uses the name Nakweesee as a supposed Native American artist.
https://www.adobegallery.com/artist/patty-fawn-and-nakweesee-cherokee-artisans
Richard Lee Smith
Search on most of these names and find their art all over the place, including in museums and as public carved totem poles.
Their operation in Ariel, Washington https://www.lelooska.org/ just scored a $12,000 grant for "the Lelooska Foundation Advertising and Outreach". https://www.klog.com/120000-awarded-in-2025-tourism-marketing-grants-to-boost-local-events-and-tourism-klog-100-7-news/