While the Apache and Navajo (and many Hopi too) did speak Spanish as well as their native languages, has there ever been any reference to the tribe that Tonto belonged? His dress in the early movie serials, and his dress in the TV series is more norther woodland Indian rather than S.W. Texas Apache.

According to the Wikipedia article on the Tonto character, the original radio series was developed in Detroit, Michigan and the "lore" for Tonto came from Michigan summer camp experiences of staff at the station. Those summer camps always have "secret" campfire rituals that are supposed to be based on Indian lore and they teach the little campers outdoor survival skills that are suppose to be just like those used by the original inhabitants of the Pleasant Peninsula.

According to the article, the names Tonto and Kemo sabi have nothing to do with Spanish, but are suppose to be words from the tribes in Michigan. Tonto was suppose to be their word for "brave" -- at least that's what the little campers who grew up to write the radio show remember.

So, it's not surprising that the Tonto of the TV series was dressed an behaved more like a woodlands Indian. As pointed out in the Wiki article, the radio and TV show never explained how he came to be in the American southwest.

That's the part that never made sense to me... Tonto was supposed to be out on a 'Vision Quest' when he came across the unconscious 'Texas' Ranger. Traditionally, the Vision Quest was done by young boys entering Manhood. (Indian Bar Mitztpah?) As such, he wouldn't have been too far from his family's encampment, which in West Texas would have put him in one of the Apache, Comanche, Tonkawa, or Lipan tribes.None of which dressed as the 'Tonto' of the TV series. The most common tribes that inhabited the area we think of as Michigan were Fox, Miami, Ojibwa (who we call Chippewa when buying moccasins,) Potawatomi, and the Kickapoo. Actually, even the Eastern Woodland tribes usually dressed in much less than our TV Tonto wore. He wore leather 'trousers.' (I wonder if he had pockets?) They wore leggings and breech-clothes.

The thread has gone off the OP

Went to see the film yesterday at airport plaza, with a friend, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lots of laughs from both Thai and Falang and even some clapping.

Too much emphasis on Tonto. He is a fictional character, let it be at that. After all the movie is not "Tonto and the Lone Ranger'.

Nice to hear so many besides me enjoyed it.

We watched the movie last night and enjoyed it! Tonto does say that he is Comanche.

But I felt that the movie really WAS more about him than the Long Ranger. Either that, or else he's just a better actor and stole the show!

Got the torrent on Pirate Bay. Didn't realize it was a cam copy till the lady returned to her seat with Popcorn. Too funny~! The movie was too hokey to pay money for and hard to know it was Johnny Depp.