BY: Ramona Alamanza of Comanche Nation News 

On June 23-25’ a group of over 90 Comanches retraced their ancestors’ steps by returning to the place the Comanche Nation first call home. The destination of the group was the 9th Annual Shoshonean-Aztec Language Reunion in Ft. Washakie, Wyoming. The Eastern Shoshone Tribe at the Wind River Reservation was the ones to host the event this year. The theme of this year’s reunion was “Don’t Forget the Language”. Joining the Comanches at the reunion, were the other bands of the Shoshone and other tribes who have a language connection with the Shoshone. The 3 day event was filled with workshops, language presentations, contests, and tours.

The first reunion was organized at Ft. Hall, Idaho in 2000. The reunion was hosted by the Ft. Hall Shoshone-Bannock Tribe. The concept of a reunion had been thought of and talked about for many years before 2000. The Shoshone Tribe had numerous questions about their traditions and origins of their tribe. The main focal point of their questions concerned the Comanche Nation. The most important question being, why did the people of the Comanche Nation, 3,000 miles away, speak the similar language as them? According to the Comanche time line, in the 1600’s the Comanches and the Shoshone were together as one group. fact, that before. In addition, for generations there has been interaction between the two tribes. For instance, several Comanche and Shoshone families have been visiting each other for years. The Shoshones wanted to know why did the Comanche break away and move to the plains area, where the Comanche now reside. It was this question of the separation of the Comanche and the Shoshone that led to the first reunion. The objective of the 1^st reunion was to explore the history and stories of the separation. Which is the goal that remains the same at the 9^th reunion as the 1^st reunion; the need to unite and learn about each other.

The Comanches made the 2 day road trip to Wyoming by chartered bus or by their own personal vehicles. Once everyone had arrived preparations were made for the Comanche’s presentations. Each day of the reunion started with a sunrise ceremony in front of the Eastern Shoshone’s Rocky Mountain Hall. The Comanche were in charge of the sunrise, flag raising ceremony on the last day of the reunion. A tired but exultant group rose at 3 a.m. to travel to hall to conduct the ceremony. With the sun rising in the background, the Jerome Tahhahwah, Ed Tahhahwah, and others they sang the flag and memorial song. After the raising of the flag, all the Comanches present sang Comanche Hymns. Chairmen Coffey then addressed the crowd about how this was a memorable time for all those who attended. Coffey then brought the ceremony to a close by conducting a cedar blessing for all those who attended.

The opening ceremony was filled with welcoming remarks from Tribal Chairmen and other leaders. The Comanche Princes, Fiona Wetselline, was asked to also speak to audience. Which she did with grace and dignity, considering the circumstance of the request being last minuet and she had no time to prepare a statement. Wetselline was a shining example of the ideal Comanche Princess throughout the 3 day event. Along with welcoming remarks, there was a moving slide show of two of the founders of the reunion who had passed away, Reaves Nahwooks and Lonnie Racehorse. They were the moving force behind forming the first reunion. And it was their leadership that kept the reunion to be the huge success that it is today.

Various workshops were held throughout the reunion. The various craft workshops covered everything from how to make baby cradles to how to make Shoshone horse saddles. There were 3 Comanches who held their own workshop. Comanche Willie Pekah held a workshop on the making of Comanche bows and arrows. Pekah also gave classes on archery. This was an immense success with the young people who attended the reunion. There were also workshops in language and other subjects of interest. Billie Kreger held a workshop about the historical sites that are of great importance to the Comanche. Jackie Swift of the National Museum of the American Indian presented a workshop on museums and how they are working to help preserve tribal customs and heritages.

The other activities of the daily were tours give by the Eastern Shoshone of their community and their historical sites. The Comanche were most impressed by the gravesite of Sacajawea and her son. There were also tours and free admissions given to all reunion participants to the Shoshones’ Hot Spring Plunge.

Contests were also held during the day in frybread contest making, teepee building, hand drum contest and archery.

The numerous youths who attended the reunion were also keep busy with an over night trip to the surrounding mountains and with workshops of their own. Workshops open to them were arts and crafts, working on their family tree, and taking part in traditional games.

The night activities were filled with hand games, tribal dancing, rounddance singing, card games, dance performances, a fashion show and Shoshone Plays on legends and Stories.

The Comanche presented an exhibition on Comanche dances and Comanche Hymns at the Easterner Shoshone’s dance grounds. To begin the presentation Fiona Wetselline, Comanche Nation Princess, gave a moving performance of the Lord’s Prayer in sign language. To show their appreciation to one and all the Comanche held a giveaway. Due to popular demand after their presentation, the Comanche were asked to host a gourd dance for the rest of the afternoon. The most impressive and moving presentation given by the Comanches was by the Chibbitty and Ulloa children. Leonard Chibbity, patriarch of the families, handsomely dressed in his regalia, was the master of ceremonies for the exhibition. The 17 young Comanches, ages from 2 to 16 years-old, dressed in their beautiful regalia, preformed popular children songs translated to the Comanche language. Before their touching performance, each one introduced their selves to the filled auditorium in Comanche. They ended their presentation with the boys giving a wonderful exhibition of the eagle dance. As a show of their gratitude, the young dancers then held a give away. Going among the crowd, they handed out gifts to the children and adults in the crowd. Their flawless performance and the perfect manners was not only a tribute to their families but to the whole Comanche Nation.

An interesting presentation was given by Shoshone Elder, Jonah Mink at the dance grounds. Mink explained the beginnings of the 49. Mink informed the audience that the 49 had their beginnings with the Shoshone Tribe. Minks said that before the warriors went out on a raid the men of the tribe would get a large hide to use as a drum. They would then stretch it out by each man holding it with one hand and using their other hand to beat the hide with a drumstick. Next the men would go singing from teepee to teepee to collected the warriors. Women of the tribe would give gifts to each warrior as they came out to use on their raid, such as moccasins.. As the last warrior was gathered, the singing and dancing would go on throughout the night till daybreak. When the sun would rise, the warriors would then head out on their raid. A demonstration was then given by the Shoshone in the dance arena.

The reunion was a huge success and a tribute to those who had the vision and heart to originate the reunion.

During the reunion, plans were made to decide were the next reunion will be held at. At an executive meeting, it was decided that the Comanche Nation would host the 10^th Annual reunion in Lawton, Oklahoma.