Chris Brown (dancer) facts for kids
Christian Jorgensen "Chris" Brown (born 1896, died 1956) was a talented Native American dancer and costume maker. He performed under the special name Chief Lemee. Chris Brown was a well-known figure in Yosemite Valley from the 1920s through the 1950s.
Chris Brown's Early Life
Chris Brown was born in Yosemite Valley in 1896. When he was young, his family lived near El Portal. His mother, Lena Brown, was often called a Southern Miwok. She married John Brown in 1900. Chris Brown was named after Christian August Jorgensen, a Norwegian artist. Jorgensen lived in Yosemite Valley for many years. Chris Brown knew a lot about Miwok traditions and beliefs. People knew him as "one of the most popular personalities in Yosemite." He was famous for his unique dances. He also created amazing beadwork and feather costumes.
His Amazing Costumes
Chris Brown used many different items in his costumes. He had a Sioux vest and moccasins. He got these from the staff at the California State Indian Museum. A photo from 1929 shows him wearing a war bonnet. This type of headdress is common among Plains Indians. At that time, he wanted to give his audience what they expected. Sometimes, he would mix Plains and California clothing styles. This helped him create the perfect look for his performances.
In the 1930s, he started using more traditional items. These were from the Miwok and other California tribes. One example is the temakela. This is a special headband made with flicker bird feathers. Chris Brown made these headbands himself. Some of his designs even included ideas from Pomo, Maidu, and Wintun traditions.
Traditional Dances
Chris Brown learned a special dance called the Eagle Dance. He learned it from Pedro "Petelo" O'Connor. Pedro was a Northern Miwok shaman and healer. He was active from 1910 until he passed away in 1942.
Cool Survival Skills
Chris Brown also showed off his amazing survival skills. He could make arrowheads. He also demonstrated how to use soaproot as a fish poison. This was a traditional way to catch fish. An expert described his method:
- First, he would mash soaproot bulbs on a stone.
- Then, he put the mashed bulbs into a basket.
- He would work them until they became foamy.
- Next, he poured the foam into Yosemite Creek.
- About 30 minutes later, he would show off the rainbow trout he caught!
Soaproot contains a natural poison called saponin. Many California tribes used this technique.
Chris Brown also built a copy of a Miwok village. It was right next to the Yosemite Museum. This village included a sweat house. Sweat houses were traditionally used for special purification ceremonies before a hunt.
