Robert "Tree" Cody

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert "Tree" Cody (born in Los Angeles, California) is one of the most notable American performers of the Native American flute. He has released many CDs and has toured throughout the Americas, Europe, and East Asia. He is also known as an actor, dancer, and educator.

Robert "Tree" Cody is the adopted son of the late Iron Eyes Cody, who adopted Robert and his brother when they were both very young. He is of Dakota and Maricopa heritage and is an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. His traditional name is Oou Kas Mah Qwet, meaning "Thunder Bear."

He resides on a Navajo Reservation in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Cynthia. His nickname, "Tree," comes from the fact that he stands 6 feet 10 inches tall. The tenth episode of the PBS series Reading Rainbow, entitled "Gift of the Sacred Dog," featured Cody playing his flute in the poem segment which was narrated by Jane Lind, and shot at Montana's Crow Agency reservation in 1983.