Red Wing

Thurland Chattaway
Kerry Mills, 1907
Key: G
Moderately

Verse:
There once lived an Indian maid, 
A shy   little prairie  maid,             Who sang a   lay, a love song gay,   
As on the  plain she'd while a-way the day. She loved a  warrior bold,
this shy little maid of old,
But brave and gay, 
he rode one day to battle far away.

Chorus:

Now, the moon shines tonight on   pretty Red Wing,
the breeze is sighing,
the night bird's crying,
For afar 'neath his star 
her brave is sleeping,
While Red Wing's weeping
her heart away.

This carved emu egg features the first Native American Movie Star, Princess Redwing. Princess Red Wing was born on the Winnebago Nation Reservation in Nebraska on February 13, 1883 and died March 13, 1974 in New York, New York. 

She entered the film world in 1908 at the ripe old age of 24.  Catching D. W. Griffith’s eye, she made her first credit film in 1909, “The Lute” and followed up with “Red Wing’s Gratitude” and “True Heart of an Indian” that same year.   “Ramona” followed in 1910.

Contrary to popular belief, “Birth of a Nation” was not the first full-length feature film made (in 1915). Cecil B. DeMille's “The Squaw Man”, beat it out by two years (1913).  Princess Redwing played the part of Nat-U-Rich, the fourth lead.  The great success of Hollywood's first successful feature film, "The Squaw Man" launched the careers of DeMille, Goldwyn and Lasky.  Lasky went on to found Paramount Pictures with Adolf Zukor.  DeMille and Goldwyn went on to create the glitz and glamour of Hollywood that we all know today.  Some people have been trying for years to obtain a much deserved star for Princess Redwing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for being Hollywood's first critically acclaimed feature film actress.   Indeed, a major film
critic review (The Moving Picture World, Louis Reeves Harrison, February 28,
1914) mentions "Princess Redwing's performs her part with exquisite fidelity
and great depth of feeling".   The Squaw Man's "highest merit is the opportunity it affords this accomplished actress."

After “talkies” came in Princess Red Wing retired from the film industry and became an advocate and spokesperson for Indian Rights.  Her husband, writer, director and actor James Young Deer died in 1946. 

Film Credits (that we know about)

1909 – The Lute
1909 – Red Wing’s Gratitude (directed by husband James Young Deer)
1909 – True Heart of an Indian (directed by husband James Young Deer)
1910 – Ramona (with Mary Pickford)
1913 – The Squaw Man
1914 – In the Days of the Thundering Herd (with Tom Mix)
1915 – Fighting Bob
1916 – Ramona (a remake with Monroe Salisbury)
1921 – White Oak (with William S. Hart)

Princess Red Wing stared in a number of other movies as well.  Some of the titles include, but are not limited to: 

"The Squaw Man's Revenge"
"Indian Blood"
"The Squaw's Death of Gratitude"

"The Cheyenne Brave"

"Lieutenant Scott's Narrow Escape"
 "Red Deer's Devotion"
 "The Wooing of White Fawn".
"The Squaw's Death of Gratitude"
"The Squawman’s Sweetheart"

Because of the variations of color and texture inherent in the emu egg itself, each carved egg will be unique and make a distinctive addition to any decor or collection.  If you are looking for a "different" housewarming gift, birthday present or other special occasion gift for an Native American history buff, either of these carved eggs will delight them.

#167 Princess Redwing Carved Emu Egg - $95.00