Ted Nugent on stage in a headdress. Photo from Facebook

Rocker Ted Nugent was in Wyoming on Saturday to speak at a Tea Party rally and described himself as the "best friend" to Native people.

Nugent has been barred from playing shows on two reservations due to racist and inflammatory comments he has made about President Barack Obama. He's also accused Native activists who are battling racist mascots of focusing on the "wrong things."

But he blamed the "media" for misconstruing comments he made about protesters who showed up to one of his concerts in Wisconsin. He admitted calling them "unclean vermin" but said those remarks weren't made about the tribes that canceled his shows.

Ted Nugent and a white bison. Photo from Facebook

“The media took that statement and said I said that about my Native American blood brothers, with whom I have had a wonderful, brotherhood relationship for more than 45 years,” Nugent said at the rally, The Cody Enterprise reported.

Nugent has frequently worn "headdresses" on stage and has repeatedly claimed solidarity with the first Americans. He claims to have spoken at tribal events and to have worked with tribal youth across the country.

“There’s not a tribe in this country that hasn’t invited me to their reservation to teach their children about being clean and sober, to aim small, miss small, and the history of hands-on conservation," Nugent said, the Enterprise reported.

“I am the best friend to the Native Americans,” he added,

Sergio A. Maldonado Sr.

Not everyone was buying the story though. Sergio A. Maldonado Sr., a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, who is running for a seat in the Wyoming Legislature as a Democrat, denounced Nugent's comments.

"Any individual with a modicum of integrity and self-worth will distance themselves from him," Maldonado said in a press release, The Casper Star-Tribune reported. "Sadly, too many will jump on the bandwagon of racism simply to be seen and heard. Hopefully the voters will remember their poor judgment at election time."

Nugent was supposed to play concerts on the Puyallup Reservation in Washington on Saturday and Sunday and on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho tonight. Leaders of both tribes said his hateful comments weren't welcome on their lands.

Get the Story:
Nugent defends his ‘Native credibility’ in face of protests (The Cody Enterprise 8/4)
The Nuge, tea partiers rally against Obama (The Casper Star-Tribune 8/3)

Related Stories:
Ted Nugent: Media to blame for tribes canceling casino concerts (8/1)
Gyasi Ross: Tribes put principle over profit in banning Ted Nugent (7/29)
Puyallup Tribe cancels upcoming Ted Nugent concerts at casino (7/25)
Coeur d'Alene Tribe axes Ted Nugent at casino over racism (7/22)
Northern Arapaho man announces run for Wyoming Legislature (05/06)