While shooting The Lone Ranger in Monument Valley, Johnny Depp visited with Navajo leaders who paid a good-will visit to the filmmakers. In costume as Tonto, Johnny spoke with Navajo president Ben Shelly and vice president Rex Lee Jim, who presented Johnny and costar Armie Hammer with Pendleton blankets. You can see Johnny proudly wearing his blanket HERE, with Rex Lee Jim on the left and Ben Shelly on the right. For another photo of Johnny shaking hands with the Navajo president, CLICK HERE, and to see the Navajo leaders with Armie Hammer (nice costume!), CLICK HERE.

Johnny also met with Dr. Gayle Dine’ Chacon, the Navajo nation’s surgeon general; she is responsible for responding to public health problems among Navajos. “He is a very charming man, very gracious and very concerned as well,” she told the local press. Dine’ Chacon spoke to Johnny about preventing youth suicide, a leading cause of death among young Navajos. “He probably spent a good hour with us. Everybody else left the set, but he was still there.”

“He is so charming,” Dine’ Chacon confided. “You feel that you are the only one there — that he’s just focusing on you.” For a photo of Johnny with Dr. Dine’ Chacon, CLICK HERE.

Many thanks to Emma, FANtasticJD, and Theresa for sharing articles and photos; you can read more about Johnny’s visit with the Navajo in Monument Valley on the Zone’s News & Views forum.