A week ago today, I arose from a hotel in Lawton, Oklahoma, grabbed some coffee, and made my way across town to visit some friends. This was my second trip to visit Comanche Nation and I had been eagerly awaiting this visit most of the year. This would be my first Comanche Fair.
Comanche Fair is an annual celebration and has been running since 1991. It’s open to the public, and attracts thousands of people to the Comanche Nation Tribal Headquarters in south-central Oklahoma. There’s a music festival, bull riding, Native arts and crafts, and an incredible pow wow. It’s a sight to behold.
I’d actually been invited last year but wasn’t able to attend, so it was really important to me that I made it this year. And “invited” probably isn’t be best word—it was made clear to me that the Tribal Members I knew wanted me to be there.
I talk a lot about meeting people where they are in life. Usually I’m speaking metaphorically. But in this case, it quite literally means getting in the truck and driving ten hours to be there. And more often that not, I can’t go. I got to attend Southern Ute’s Bear Dance this year but I missed their fair and their pow wow, and there are folks in that Tribe who I love dearly. So it’s a balancing act. But I knew that I needed to make it to Lawton this year, knowing that I could visit with a few other Tribes that I both work with and care deeply about along the way.
Last Friday morning started pretty amazing, too. A number of riders were beginning the fair’s proceedings by making a journey on horseback from nearby Fort Sill to the Tribal Complex.1 Seeing them return was pretty cool, plus I met my friend Don, whose grandmother I had fallen in love with met the previous day when I was visiting the Kiowa Tribe.2
Afterwards, I was invited to have lunch with the riders, which I accepted because it is well established that I like to eat barbecue. But beyond that was the reason I was here. Sure I was there to represent the Forest Service and answer questions about projects we were working on, but I really didn’t come to talk shop.3 It was about spending time in this community, getting to know people, and letting them know me. The only way I can demonstrate to this Tribe or any other Tribe that I work with that I give a damn is by showing up and caring about the things they care about. And I think that’s pretty much the way it is in any relationship- half the work is just about showing up.
The rest of the day was spent saying hello to people. I got to say hi to Chairman Tahdooahnippah for a bit, as well as making new friends. But mostly it was about getting a sense of what happens at Comanche Fair, and continuing to learn more about the Nation.
Nighttime came, and I sat my chair own to watch the main event—the first evening’s pow wow. If you’ve never been to a pow wow before, you really wanna check one out. They are celebrations of Indigenous culture, history, and resilience. They’re also symbols of community. Multiple nations attend and danced at Comanche Fair, and everyone is invited. And that’s what’s cool. Tribal pow wows like Comanche Fair are about sharing with everyone. Folks love it when you attend. And they are so much fun. Plus, there is frybread.
The next day marked the start of parade so I arrived early to get a seat along the parade route and got to hang out with some new friends. People always seemed a bit shocked when I told them I drove out from Colorado, but I would tell them that Colorado was Comanche Country too, and it was a honor to be there. Because that was the truth. The parade was pretty cool. I got a lot of candy thrown my way, most of which I just gave to the kids sitting next to me, but I kept some for the drive home to give to my friends in the office. One of the cool things is that you get to see so many of the Nation’s departments in the parade—the Language Department was there, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office had a truck, the Nation’s fire department, and so on. Plus, many of the nearby Tribes also had trucks or floats in the parade.
One of the cool things was as I was walking around, my friend Marty, who was serving as emcee, called me out— “Hey there’s Atah (Uncle) Jason out from Colorado! Everyone say hi!” And I’m sheepishly raised my hand and smiled. But so many people came to say hello- I saw some of the kids from the summer youth encampment we did, along with parents or elders. It made me feel so good to feel so welcome there.
And then I got a text- “Can you come meet up with us?” It was the folks from the Comanche Language Department. “Sure,” I said, as my phone battery dipped to four percent. “I’ll be right over.” I really love the folks over there—we’ve been working on some projects and I’ve gotten to know them pretty well. But I wasn’t expecting what happened next—they presented me with a hand beaded bolo tie with the Nation’s symbol on it along with a beaded keychain and a pen—as thank you for all the work I’ve been doing. But what really got me verklempt was seeing the card they created.
On occasion, Tribal Members will honor you with a Tribal name. It doesn’t mean you’re a member of the Tribe, but it means that they love you and that you kinda belong to them. I was given the name Pianaape by an elder last year. It means “Bigfoot.” So on the card is my Comanche name and the words “we love you” written in Comanche. I am almost crying again as I type this to you.
The day got somehow even better when I ran into Mr. and Mrs. Chitbitty. Mr. Chibitty was the one how actually gave me my Comanche name. Naturally, we had to take some pictures, too.
The night topped off with another amazing pow wow, even bigger than Friday’s. And I wish I had more room to tell you all about it, though I suppose maybe that’s encouragement for you to attend next year.
I want to close with a thought. You hope that your work matters and that in my position at least, that folks know you give of yourself to them willingly because of your affection for them. Feeling that returned on you is hard to describe. All I can say is that to Comanche Nation, Pianaape loves you right back.
Jason
Being from Kentucky, I spent a lot of time on horseback as a kid, and I’m hoping to ride some with the tribes next year. But at my size, we’ll need to acquire a Clydesdale. Or an elephant.
In all seriousness, she was just lovely and I got a big hug from her later on when she came to the Fair.
Welp, I should probably disclaim here that none of the thoughts presented belong to anyone other than myself, and do not represent the United States Forest Service, the federal government, or Smokey Bear.
Love it when you recount your adventures.
Wow, that’s some powerful magic there, and the food! Ooolala. Take it easy😉thank you for sharing🙏