Arland Ben

I grew up everywhere. I attended elementary school in Blanding and Montezuma Creek, Utah. My middle school and high school years were in San Bernadino, California.

It was a culture shock. Overtime it was nice because I knew I would get a break from both.

I attended Brigham Young University in Utah.

Well I wanted to be a doctor so I started in physics. Eventually I changed to fine arts, and that was a good choice.

No, we did a lot of painting and sculptor work.

I did a lot of portraits and some sculptor work, but it wasn’t Native American themed.

I starting making jewelry in the late 1980s.

No, around the same time I started doing rehearsals for parts in movies

Well I'm with a friend at the 1991 Gathering of Nations and this talent scout comes up to me and gets me an audition.

No.

It was for the character Uncas in the Last of the Mohicans. I was one of 10,000 actors who auditioned for the role and I made it to the final four.

From the beginning to the end took about a month. By the time it was winding down to the finalist I started to feel a bit more comfortable. I knew I wasn’t going to get the part, but it created an interest that I would pursue more.

No, I was in the movie as part of the main Mohican tribe and did some stunt work.

Last of the Mohicans changed the way action films were filmed. The close up action and killing that you see in today’s films began with that movie.

I did auditions for Geronimo, Maverick and Buffalo Girls.

Yes. Back in 1993, I landed a role in the movie Maverick, but had to decline due to my son being born. After I started my family, I wanted to put movies on hold until my boys graduated from high school. My youngest son has two years left.

I think it is something I might pursue again.

I grew up riding horses and was always around rodeo. In the late 1990s I decided to try competitive saddle bronc riding. I was in my mid 30s when I started rodeo.

I was a wrestler growing up and wrestled in college at BYU. My coach was Bill Henderson in California whose son is Dan Henderson.

I helped coach in Moriarty for 25 years. Moriarty has produced National Champions and has been ranked as high as number four in the Nation.

I like to try everything. I don’t want to just do one thing.

Well as of lately I've been putting a lot of energy into photography. I just finished taking a series of photographs at this year’s Gathering of Nations. Lots of traditional Pow Wow Dancers.

You can check them out on my Facebook page.

Growing up in the Four Corners you always saw them on the rocks. They always interested me and I knew that one day I would do something with those figures.