Robert Tree Cody

Robert Tree Cody (born April 20, 1951) is a Native American musician, dancer, and educator.^[1] He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1969. Robert is an adopted son of Hollywood actor Iron Eyes Cody.

Early life

Robert Tree Cody is the adopted son of the actor Iron Eyes Cody and Cody's wife Bertha Parker, an Assistant in Archaeology at Southwest Museum of the American Indian. Iron Eyes and Bertha adopted Robert and his brother Arthur, who served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and died as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. Iron Eyes Cody remained married until Bertha's death in 1978. The brothers are of Dakota and Maricopa heritage. Robert is an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. In the Maricopa language, his traditional name is Oou Kas Mah Quet, meaning "Thunder Bear".^[2]

Formerly of Big Bear, California, he now resides in Winslow, Arizona. His nickname, "Tree", comes from his height: he is six feet nine and a half inches tall.^[2] In 2009, Robert was interviewed about his father in the Canadian documentary Reel Injun.

Performer and musician

Robert is one of the most notable performers of the Native American flute. He has released many albums^[3] with Canyon Records and has toured throughout the Americas, Europe, and East Asia. He performed the traditional carved wooden flute on several tracks of The Rippingtons' 1999 album Topaz.^[4]

Robert Cody was featured playing his flute in the tenth episode of the PBS series Reading Rainbow, entitled "The Gift of the Sacred Dog" (based on the book by Paul Goble). It was shot at Montana's Crow Agency reservation on June 17, 1983. He performed with Xavier Quijas Yxayotl, a Huichol from Guadalajara for the 2000 new age album Crossroads.^[5]

During the 1950s and '60s and '70s, Robert traveled the pow wow circuit extensively as a dancer.^[2]

References