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Oklahoma was the 46th state to be admitted to the Union. The Oklahoma State Seal consists of a large five-pointed star surrounded by forty-five small stars, representing the 46 states of the USA at that time.

The center of the large star contains the seal of the Territory of Oklahoma, and its five rays contain the seals of the Five Indian Nations.

The seal of the Territory of Oklahoma depicts two representatives of the white and red races shaking hands beneath the scales of Justice.

The seals of the Five Indian Nations are: for the Cherokee Nation, a seven pointed star surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves; for the Chickasaw Nation, an ancient warrior standing with bow and shield; for the Creek Nation, a sheaf of wheat and a plow; for the Choctaw Nation, an unstrung bow, three arrows and a smoking pipe-hatchet; and for the Seminole Nation, a tribesman paddling a canoe across a lake, taking goods to sell at the Trading Post.

The circular band surrounding the seal reads: Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma 1907.

[From the Oklahoma Constitution, Article 6, Section 6-35]

The Five Tribes are five Native American nations which lived in Southeastern North America: the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole. Each of them had advanced systems of government, education and law enforcement.

In the first half of 19th century, the Five Tribes were deported from their traditional homelands east of the Mississippi and forced to settle in Indian Territory, in present day Oklahoma.

The Five Tribes remained independent until 1907, when Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were merged to create the State of Oklahoma.

What they needed was a country big enough for their dreams… that’s the tagline of “Far and Away”, a 1992 movie directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

Cruise and Kidman play Irish immigrants seeking their fortune in 1890s America, eventually taking part in the 1893 Oklahoma Land Run.

To follow their dream, they decide to join the wagon trains and arrive in Oklahoma Territory just in time for the big race. Don’t miss the following Land Run scenes!

By the way, Ron Howard was born in Duncan (OK) and is of Irish descent. He is currently filming “The Da Vinci Code”, based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel. The movie is scheduled for release in May 2006.

Tex Willer is the longest-lived character of Italian comics; his stories have been published uninterruptedly for over fifty years, since 1948.

Tex is a real tough guy, ironic, anti-racist and enemy of all kinds of injustice. Tex is a Ranger and, after his marriage with the beautiful Lilyth, daughter of Navajo Chief Red Arrow, has become the honorary leader of the Navajos, with the name Eagle of the Night. Tex was deeply in love with his wife, and after her death has never become involved with any other woman.

In his many adventures (in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico) Tex can always count on two close friends: Kit Carson, an older Ranger, and Tiger Jack, a silent Navajo warrior. Tex and Lilyth’s son, Kit Willer, has later joined the trio.

Often Tex, Kit Carson, Tiger and Kit end up in a world of magic, where the western scenario mixes with horror, fantasy, and gothic themes. So Tex enemies are not only outlaws and rebels, but also black magician Mephisto, his son Yuma, or misterious secret sects.

To learn more, you can visit the site of the publisher, Sergio Bonelli Editore.

On October 12, 1492, Italian navigator Christopher Columbus reached the New World.

The first celebration of the discovery of America was organized by the Italian population of New York City on October 12, 1866. The next year, more Italian organizations in other cities held banquets, parades and dances on that date. In 1869, when Italians of San Francisco celebrated October 12, they called it Columbus Day.

Certainly Columbus, perhaps against his will, opened the door to European colonization, the exploitation of native peoples and the slave trade; but I’d rather view Columbus Day as the historical meeting between European and American peoples, symbolizing the meeting of all the Continents to live and prosper peacefully together.

Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October (October 10th this year). For more information, you can visit the Wilstar Holidays site.