1 - Desert Magazine of the Southwest

The mark of a Smoki Chief. The tattoo and the silver and turquoise ring
bearing the same markings symbolize a past chief of the Smoki People.
Photo by Al Cirou.
Pictute-of-the-month Contest...
For the photographer, the desert offers a wide and interesting
variety of camera subjects: Indians in colorful costumes, sunsets,
plants, animals, mountains, insects, rivers, clouds, strange rock formations
and people enjoying themselves in the desert environment.
And for the photographer whose picture is judged a winner in our
monthly photo contests, Desert Magazine offers cash awards. It's an
easy contest to enter and there is no limitation on your photo subject
so long as it is of the Desert Southwest.
Entries for the August contest must be sent to the Desert Magazine
office. Palm Desert, California, and postmarked not later than August
18. Winning prints will appear in the October issue. Pictures which
arrive too late for one contest are held over for the next month. First
prize is $10; second prize $5. For non-winning pictures accepted for
publication $3 each will be paid.
HERE ARE THE RULES
1—Prints must be black and white. 5x7 or larger, on glossy paper.
2—Each photograph submitted should be fully labeled as to subject, time and
place. Also technical data: camera, shutter speed, hour of day, etc.
3—PRINTS WILL BE RETURNED WHEN RETURN POSTAGE IS ENCLOSED.
4—Entries must be in the Desert Magazine office by the 20th of the contest month.
5—Contests are open to both amateur and professional photographers. Desert
Magazine requires first publication rights only of prize winning pictures.
6—Time and place of photograph are immaterial, except that it must be from the
desert Southwest.
7—Judges will be selected from Desert's editorial staff, and awards will be made
immediately after the close of the contest each month.
Address All Entries to Photo Editor
Z>e4c*t t 7HaQ4$i*e PALM DESERT. CALIFORNIA
of Prescott, Arizona, who are noted
throughout the country for their colorful
and faithful presentations of Indian
ceremonial dances. And it set me to
wondering.
Who are these people? How did
their tribe begin? What goes on behind
their annual ceremonials? How
do they become so proficient in their
dances? These and other questions.
Last August, I again had an opportunity
to see the Smoki People. My
wife, Nan, and I drove to Prescott a
few days before the Ceremonials,
talked with the members of the tribe,
watched their preparations for the
dances and once again saw a memorable
performance. But even more impressive
were the People themselves
and the work they accomplish.
The Smoki People are not, as one
famous encyclopedia erred, "an almost
extinct tribe of Arizona Indians." The
mistake was understandable, though,
since a Smoki in paint and costume
often is indistinguishable from a real
Indian—so authentic and complete are
their transformations at Ceremonial
times. Actually, the Smokis are white
men and women from Prescott who
have dedicated themselves to the preservation
and presentation of ancient
Indian ceremonials, mystic rites and
legends. There are now about 300
active members. Another 300 persons
who, "once a Smoki always a Smoki,"
have moved from Prescott but still
retain their status in the tribe.
They come from all walks of life
and are of all ages. We met bankers,
shoemakers, doctors, merchants, dentists,
public utility officials and even
a U. S. Senator. "I guess there isn't
any business or profession that is not
represented among the Smoki People,"
one member told us. "And we have
had performers ranging from babes in
arms to 80 year olds."
Though usually well-known among
Prescott residents, the Smoki People
are reticent about personal publicity
and their bylaws expressly forbid individuals
publicly being called by
name. They feel that the tribe—not
its members—is the important thing,
and they carefully retain an air of
anonymity when you ask for public
identification. That is why there are
no names in the captions of the photographs
accompanying this article. Indeed,
it was only with great persuasion
that we were even able to obtain photographs
of individuals before they assumed
their Indian roles.
However, there is one way you can
always tell a Smoki: look for a tattoo
on the outer edge of his left hand.
Men are marked with four dots in a
row . . . . , while past chiefs have a
crescent added ....). Women are
12 DESERT MAGAZINE