Movie star Mel Gibson sees his first powwow in valley

[Paul G]

Debra Gruszecki
The Desert Sun
November 28, 2006

Actor Mel Gibson attended his first Indian powwow over the weekend, as he watched the Saturday evening Grand Entry inside the special events center of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, officials of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians said.

Gibson, whose latest movie, "Apocalypto,'' will be released Dec. 8 in Oklahoma, drove to the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians Reservation near Indio from his Malibu home on Saturday, arriving about 7 p.m. for a private meeting with members of the tribe.

Gibson watched the Grand Entry from a private viewing area with Cabazon Tribal Council Chairman John James.

"It was a real surprise,'' James said. "It was a real thrill for the Indian people to meet and greet him in person. We had to fight our way off the (viewing) stand - they were all taking pictures. The flash photography was incredible."

James said Gibson commented on how he'd never seen a grand march before. He was fascinated to learn about the significance of the blessing by smoke - how it cleanses the spirit - and seemed like a real down-to-earth guy, James said. "It was difficult to hold a conversation with all the drumming going on. But he did tell me he'd just finished production of a movie about the Mayan civilization, and invited me to the opening. I thought that was real nice."

Gibson could not be reached to comment.

But one of his publicists, Jhane Myers, said in a written statement that Gibson was impressed with the "first-ever" powwow he attended.

Gibson spent the night in a suite at the resort casino hotel and dined at its Bistro restaurant, Myers said. Myers was a judge at the 25th annual powwow event attracting thousands of participants and spectators.

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/NEWS06/611280330

[trob226]

Gibson, like many celebrities, has a lot to learn, and he's not going to learn it from a private viewing area.

[Nezbah]

oh great....another glonnii in the arena??? LOL........sorry just had to say it......

SECURITY!!!!!! ayeeeeeeee

But I did hear his new movie was goot,,,,,, you can view it for free on COPS! hahaa...just kidding

[luvstraightdancrs]

I've met Mr. Gibson and I found him to be a real down to earth guy. Not what you would imagine. He is just a regular person. I met him at a preview of the rough version of Apocolypto (his newest movie) starring Rudy Youngblood, a grass dancer, Comanche descendent and adopted Cree. He met my husband and children as well. He seems very impressed with the Native American culture and the structure and spirituality of it all. So please, don't knock the guy if you have never had the pleasure of his company.

As far as the movie goes, it is phenominal! Action filled from the start! Rudy does a great job and captivates the audience throughout the movie. Before anyone knocks the movies, spend the $8 bucks and go see it.

Nothing worse than a bunch of people with preconceived ideas and notions!

[Nezbah]

I've met Mr. Gibson and I found him to be a real down to earth guy. Not what you would imagine. He is just a regular person. I met him at a preview of the rough version of Apocolypto (his newest movie) starring Rudy Youngblood, a grass dancer, Comanche descendent and adopted Cree. He met my husband and children as well. He seems very impressed with the Native American culture and the structure and spirituality of it all. So please, don't knock the guy if you have never had the pleasure of his company.

As far as the movie goes, it is phenominal! Action filled from the start! Rudy does a great job and captivates the audience throughout the movie. Before anyone knocks the movies, spend the $8 bucks and go see it.

Nothing worse than a bunch of people with preconceived ideas and notions!

He may be an actor/director but he has no respect from me and my family. Someone who drives drunk, gets arrested, and shouts racial/religous epithets is definitely no hero of mine. Everyday people are being driven down by drunk drivers, and hollywood stars are no exception. Just glad he didn't kill anyone at the time. We just witnessed the killing of a whole family, Mom and Dad plus all their children hit by a drunk driver on I-25, only 1 person lived. All these lives were cut short because of a drunk driver. So I have no heart for any of these DWI/DUI people. It takes years to be sober and live sober, not 90 days. This is just my own personal opinion of the man...........no respect.

[luvstraightdancrs]

Am sorry that you witnessed such an act, and I too dislkie drunk drivers. Used to be married to one and worry so much about young people, as well as old, out on the roads in that condition. What I was referring to is that in general, despite his DUI and racial slurs (which have reasons behind that the general public is not aware of - not to mention that Hollywood is larger than life and full of drama - if there is not enough, they will create it), he appears to be a very kind man.

Just about everyone is guilty of racial slurs...I haven't met one person that has not said something derogitory about another race in my 49 years. No one likes everyone and at times we all open mouth, insert foot. For this he has apologized profusly and should be given the chance to change his way of thinking. He was big enough to step up, admit he was wrong and is doing something about his frinking. He should receive at least a pat on the back for that.

Again I have as much dislike of drunk drivers as you do and agree that they are a danger to society. Unfortunately you nor I can do anything to stop them. I was trying to imply that in meeting Mr, Gibson I found him to be a kind man, doesn't mean that I have forgotten about his action. I do believe that everyone is entitled to a second chance, and I think that he is at least making an effort. Not trying to start a debate or arguement, just stating I met him and thought he was a nice guy.

[SAC]

Apocolypto is Awesome!!!! I just wish the that people go see it before they comment on it as you say. I also wish that the media stop getting on it about being "so violent." You think they never saw a movie that was historically accurate on some of the bad things of human life.

[between2worlds]

Apocolypto is Awesome!!!! I just wish the that people go see it before they comment on it as you say. I also wish that the media stop getting on it about being "so violent." You think they never saw a movie that was historically accurate on some of the bad things of human life.

Get a Mayan person's POV on whether the movie is historically accurate from THEIR perspective. Then think about the truism "History is written by the winners."

I'm not disputing historical accuracy here - from a Euro-christian POV it is VERY accurate. But to imply that it is an accurate telling of the Mayan culture and history as a Mayan would tell it is another thing altogether.

[TwoCats]

Go Rudy!

What a great opportunity for Rudy! American Indian Dance Theatre and Spirit! gave him great exposure and opportunity to develop. I hope he doesn't forget the folks that helped him along the way. Go Rudy, Go!

Pilamaye

[outershell]

maybe attending a powwow will enlighten him a bit.

Mel puts a little too much of his own politics into his own movies.
He seems to be very anti- gay and anti- jewish.
he's made some very homophobic and antisemetic comments.
I had no desire to see his billion dollar snuff film, Passion of the Christ and I doubt I'll spend money on his new film.
If you liked the new movie Apocolypto, good for you. But I think I'll pass.

[n8vladyjingler23]

i went seen apocalypto the other day and the movie is awesome. maybe after mel gibson went to the powwow he'll do a movie about us native americans here in the u.s., and tell about the downfall of our civilaization and how we still are here after all that has been done. i'm tired of the movie makers who say their going to tell our true story, and it turns out to be a lie. rudy did an awesome job. mel gibson seems like the only guy whose not afraid to make honest movies no matter who it offends, so lets hope he'll do ours since it offends everybody, and they'd rather it be a buried secret. i'm tired of being stereotyped as a drunk rich casino indian; not all of us are that way.

[ndnwmn21]

I agree n8vladyjingler23

[SAC]

Movie is Accurate and Historical!!!!

I also have many Mayan Friends. Hell, I have been to the great pyramids of the Mayans and Aztec and I even hiked up the great Incan site of Machu Picchu in 2001 on one of those Learning Abroad/Overseas/Adventure Summer Student Programs. This movie is very accurate and should be to any of Mayan Culture. Remember - it is a presention of ONLY one part of Mayan Culture and at ONE MOMENT in Mayan Culture.

The Mayan Empire was great with Art, Music, Science, Math, Architecture, and incredible Engineering. Hell their mathmatical calendar was more accurate than anything the white man had until the invention of the atomic clock!!!! BUT like all cultures and empires some parts of the Great Mayan Culture were not pretty at all and this film happens to show that part.

If you do a movie on the Great Science, Art, Music, Math, Engineering and more of the Mayans, it would just be another documentary like PBS or the History Channel and nobody would pay to go and see it.

Instead Gibson made a historical movie about the non-pretty parts of the the Great Mayan Culture. If you want to see the other parts of the Great Mayan Culture then watch one of the many (really there are lots) documentaries made by dozens of production companies.

[GRANDSON OF ZEELA]

Apocalypto was a good action packed movie...