Spielberg producers sued by Indians

A family of New Mexico Indians is suing the producers of a Steven Spielberg TV series, claiming a stylist violated tribal customs by cutting a girl's hair to make her look like a boy.

A lawsuit filed by the girl's father, Danny Ponce, seeks US$250,000 ($397,372) for emotional distress and US$75,000 ($119,212) in damages from the makers of Into the West."It's part of our culture not to cut a girl's hair until her Coming of Age ceremony," said Ponce. "The only ones allowed to do that are the parents. Nobody asked for permission."

During the three-day shoot the girl's hair was cut "to make her look more "Indian" and like a male Indian child.