Questions for Jay

[cherie]

Hi Jay

Would appreciate you answering any one of these questions ;D

-What made you decide on Adopt A Native Elder in particular as a charity you would support?

-If you could play the role of any character in the history of acting, literary and history figures (forget about having to look the part ) what role would you choose?

-Favourite scene as Waka Mani and Chief Prairie Fire and why it is your favourite?

-What do you wish to be your legacy?/How do you wish to be remembered?

[jaytavare1]

Hi Cherie, hope you are well... I am resting this week before the Marathon, calm before the storm. Although I have answered some of your question before, I will say... I looked for a charity that I could really be involved with and not just lend my name to... I found all that and more with Adopt a Native Elder program. The two wonderful ladies who are the founders of this program come from two different Worlds... Linda who is white, and Grace who is a full blood Navajo, came together over 20 years ago to make a difference and they certainly have done that. In fact Linda started off with just one rug that she took away from the rez to sell on behalf of the weaver, and everyone laughed at the Navajo weaver thinking he was never going to see her again... LOL but she sold it and returned every penny to him... from there she has build such trust and understanding with the Navajo Elders that they see her as one of them and she is even married to a wonderful Navajo Gentleman. The first time I was invited to attend the rug show, I was so moved by the energy and love of the Elders that I knew I had found my cause... which is much more than a Charity... this program is an exchange of cultures and spirit... and everyone who volunteers, and there are so many wonderful people from all races who are involved and who make ANE an amazing program.

I would like to play Cochise in an epic movie about his life... there are many other roles from many other races and places... but Elbys Hugar who is like family to me, who is the great grand daughter of the great chief, is very dear to me and I feel I could really do this role Justice and honor the Apache nation and Elbys.

Waka Mani was a great role and I shared many things with that character... Including boarding school experience. I loved working with Nanci Rossov who is a wonderful and talented director and all the cast was so perfect.
I love the class room scenes with Tambi and the Tobacco scene on the roof, for it was a moment of prayer and no matter how far Waka Mani was from his culture he kept his traditions alive...

As far as Into the West... Crying over my little girl was totally real for me... I had just lost Cheyenne, My Wolf dog a week before the filming, and Steven had hand picking me to play a cheyenne Chief was no coincidence... at least not to me. I knew that was my guardian Wolf had a final gift for me as she departed... her name was " Cheyenne " and I only had to think of her and rub the buffalo robe the little girl was lying in, and all the raw emotions came washing over me... In fact I had several ladies on the set in tears as they watched me do that scene, also watching Keri singing to me half naked was not so bad...
Your last question about legacy and being remembered... I think first, one has to live a life worth remembering and I want to make a difference by inspiring as many people as I can... for although many make fuss of me... I am just an ordinary man who dreamed big... and dared to follow my dreams with open eyes to make them possible...
You all can make your dreams come true to... that is your Sacred Power...
It all starts with believing... Don't wait!!!!
I wish you a wonderful week...
with all my heart,
JT>

[cherie]

Thanks for answering all my questions ;D I was having a challenging day, so it was a lovely suprise that cheered me up

I am resting this week before the Marathon, calm before the storm.

I'm nervous and I'm not competing! I've not followed the LA marathon before so it will be interesting that's for sure

she is even married to a wonderful Navajo Gentleman.

I wondered about that! Nice to know. I didn't know about Grace so thanks for that information.

The first time I was invited to attend the rug show, I was so moved by the energy and love of the Elders that I knew I had found my cause

Okay, thanks. It sounds like a special experience. Those Elders sure are adorable in photos

I would like to play Cochise in an epic movie about his life... there are many other roles from many other races and places... but Elbys Hugar who is like family to me, who is the great grand daughter of the great chief, is very dear to me and I feel I could really do this role Justice and honor the Apache nation and Elbys.

I don't know anything about Cochise so now I will research him.

I love the class room scenes with Tambi and the Tobacco scene on the roof, for it was a moment of prayer and no matter how far Waka Mani was from his culture he kept his traditions alive...

Thanks ;D

As far as Into the West... Crying over my little girl was totally real for me... I had just lost Cheyenne, My Wolf dog a week before the filming, and Steven had hand picking me to play a cheyenne Chief was no coincidence... at least not to me. I knew that was my guardian Wolf had a final gift for me as she departed... her name was " Cheyenne " and I only had to think of her and rub the buffalo robe the little girl was lying in, and all the raw emotions came washing over me... In fact I had several ladies on the set in tears as they watched me do that scene,

Watching this scene will be even sadder now It was a lovely gift she gave you and us, seeing you in that role. Perhaps Mo's gift will arrive on Monday... I wondered about the crying but did not want to ask as I felt that was personal to ask an actor where they went to bring forth that emotion

also watching Keri singing to me half naked was not so bad...

Now I'm wondering how many takes were done because you couldn't get the leaning quite right

I think first, one has to live a life worth remembering and I want to make a difference by inspiring as many people as I can

I think that has happened and will continue

[echo1sierra]

Hi Jay,

After reading your response to Cheri's wonderful post, I was inspired to ask a question myself. Would you consider playing Ishi, the
last member of the Yahi tribe? I read a book about his life of solitude written by Theodora Kroeber, are you familiar with this book? In a sweeping massacre almost all of the Yahi nation were killed. Ishi lived alone for 40 years in the Mount Lassen area off Orville, California.

His is such an amazing story, I think you would be the perfect actor to play Ishi. What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

echo

[jaytavare1]

Hello and welcome echo. I'm not that familiar with the story... I will look into it. I thought there was a TV movie done about him that Graham Green did a few years ago. It was a sad story. He was the last of his tribe. There are so many great characters that I could do... and not all natives.

[echo1sierra]

Hi jay,

Thank you for responding to my question. Congratulations on finishing the marathon, well done!!




echo

[rach2000]

Hi Jay!!!

I am watching Into the West at the moment and was so excited to see you in it. I loved your work in the Missing as well. Into the West is brilliantly made, ever since i was a little girl i have been fascinated by Native Americans and their life/culture and to finally see a miniseries showing bpth side realistically is great!

Do you have any new projects in the works? Which other of your movies do you recommend watching?

thanks again and all the best!
xox

[cryinwolf67]

Hi Jay, could you PLEASE tell me how to say your last name Correctly? Thank You. Much Love & Respect, Bobbi

[cryinwolf67]

Hi again... Jay, how many languages do you know/speak? are they hard to learn? Which languages do you know? Thanks. Much Love and Respect, Bobbi

[kayoteaz]

May 20, 2009 1:19:54 GMT -5 jaytavare1 said:

I would like to play Cochise in an epic movie about his life...

That would be quite the epic story.One I would love to see.
a few years ago I visited the "Cochise Stonghold" I was amazed at the landscape and terrain. When you stand in that remote location it is very understandable how a Warrior with personal familiarity of the region could easily elude anybody he wanted to.

I have always heard that the landscape shapes a man.
In this case he must have been a complex, rugged, beautiful man of peace.
A perfect role for you.

[shynitha]

Hi, I have question about the Native Americans. Do the Native Americans really want to be equal or do they just let everyone run over them? I mean no offense to this question but I never heard of the Natives until high school and most people had said that the Native Americans are non-existant. Plus, I had not heard any complaints from them and I live in the east coast of America.

[claudia]

Sept 23, 2010 1:14:08 GMT -5 shynitha said:

Hi, I have question about the Native Americans. Do the Native Americans really want to be equal or do they just let everyone run over them? I mean no offense to this question but I never heard of the Natives until high school and most people had said that the Native Americans are non-existant. Plus, I had not heard any complaints from them and I live in the east coast of America.

That's because everything is kept silent on purpose..

[ladylocs]

Peace and Blessings to you Jay. I don't have any questions as of yet for you, but rather words of appreciation for you as an activist and actor. It's really wonderful to find an actor that is concious of and in touch with the ills of our people and creation and is not afraid to reach out and do what he can to change it. Thankyou and may our Creator continue to prosper the works of your hands.

[lulu]

Hi Jay,

My question is about your age, can you tell me how old are you ? Because I heard so many different age that i don't know, I heart 40, 52 and even you are as old as Russel mean.

[claudia]

Why is age important? Aren't the things he does in this world more important then his age? It's not an attack or anything, I'm just wondering.