NUMU TEKWAPUHA NOMENEEKATU NEWSLETTER October 2008 Vol. #11 Issue #4 The Language & Cultural Preservation Committee 1375 N.E. Cline Road, Elgin OK 73538-3086 www.comanchelanguage.org fax: 1-580-492-5119 e-mail: [email protected] Editor: Barbara Goodin

2008 COMANCHE NATION FAIR We tell children that they must bring one The 2008 Comanche Nation Fair of their parents with them to receive was a success as far as distribution of material, and most people are very our material goes. We gave away understanding. nearly 2000 pieces of language learning Now, if each person that received material to enrolled tribal members. language learning material would make We were there from 2:00 until 8:00 a concerted effort to study the material p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and learn from it, then we would have Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 had a VERY successful week-end. p.m. Sunday. It was a long week-end ______for us that began on Thursday with the opening of the Code Talkers exhibit at CHIEF = SPEECH the Comanche National Museum in Lawton. (*Comanche Chief Ten Bears (1792- I personally talked to nearly every 1872) was the most influential leader of person that took home some language the great Comanche Nation. He gave material, and they were from all over the the speech below at the signing of the United States. One young man was on Medicine Lodge Treaty in Kansas on his way to Iraq in October, and he October 20, 1867. This Treaty provided wanted to have something to study and that each man, woman and child would learn while he was away from home. I be given a 160 acre allotment in what shook his hand, and felt proud he is one would be known as the , of our Comanche warriors. Comanche and Apache (KCA) Like last year, there were a lot of Reservation. After reading this speech new learners out there, of all ages. you will understand why Chief Ten Some folks much older than me Bears was known as the great orator of confessed they had not learned our the Comanche people.) language, and wanted to do so now. We gave away sets of flash cards to all “My heart is filled with joy when I see ages, and that was probably our most you here, as the brooks fill with water popular item, as we ran out Sunday when the snows melt in the spring; and I afternoon. The Comanche Dictionary is feel glad as the ponies do when the always popular, and now that we have a Sounds and Spelling System DVD to go fresh grass starts in the beginning of the along with it, we hope that will make it year. I heard of your coming when I easier for new learners. was many sleeps away, and I made but Because we are funded by the Tribe, few camps before I met you. I knew that we limit our distribution of language you had come to do good to me and to material to enrolled tribal members only. my people. I looked for benefits which would last forever, and so my face prairie, were the wind blew free and shines with joy as I look upon you. My there was nothing to break the light of people have never first drawn a bow or the sun. I was born where there were fired a gun against the whites. There no enclosures and everything drew a has been trouble on the line between free breath. I want to die there and not us, and my young men have danced the within walls. I know every stream and war dance. But it was not begun by us. every wood between the Rio-Grande It was you who sent out the first soldier and the Arkansas. I have hunted and and we who sent out the second. Two lived over that country. I live like my years ago, I came upon this road, fathers before me and like them I lived following the buffalo, that my wives and happily. children might have their cheeks plump When I was at Washington the Great and their bodies warm. But the soldiers Father told me that all the Comanche fired on us, and since that time there land was ours, and that no one should has been a noise like that of a hinder us in living upon it. So, why do thunderstorm, and we have not known you ask us to leave the rivers, and sun, which way to go. So it was upon the and the wind, and live in houses? Do Canadian. Nor have we been made to not ask us to give up the buffalo for the cry once alone. The blue-dressed sheep. The young men have heard talk soldiers and the Utes came from out of of this, and it has made them sad and the night when it was dark and still, and angry. Do not speak of it more. I love for camp-fires they lit our lodges. to carry out the talk I get from the Great Instead of hunting game they killed my Father. When I get goods and presents, braves, and the warriors of the tribe cut I and my people feel glad, since it shows short their hair for the dead. that he holds us in his eye. So it was in . They made If the Texans had kept out of my sorrow come in our camps, and we went country, there might have been peace. out like the buffalo bulls when the cows But that which you now say we must live are attacked. When we found them we in, is too small. The Texans have taken killed them, and their scalps hang in our away the places where the grass grew lodges. The are not weak the thickest and the timber was the best. and blind, like the pups of a dog when Had we kept that, we might have done seven sleeps old. They are strong and the things you ask. But it is too late. far-sighted, like grown horses. We took The whites have the country we loved, their road and we went on it. The white and we only wish to wander on the women cried and our women laughed. prairie until we die. Any good thing you But there are things which you have say to me shall not be forgotten. I shall said to me which I do not like. They carry it as near to my heart as my were not sweet like sugar, but bitter like children, and it shall be as often on my gourds. You said that you wanted to put tongue as the name of the Great Spirit. us upon a reservation, to build us I want no blood upon my land to stain houses and make us medicine lodges. I the grass. I want it all clear and pure, do not want them. I was born upon the and I wish it so that all who go through

2 among my people may find peace when Meat); they come in and leave it when they go Kowa (Stinking Tobacco Box); out.” Soko (Old Man);

The Comanche leaders who signed THE TREATY OF 1846 the Medicine Lodge Treaty were: AT COUNCIL SPRINGS Parry-wah-say-men, or Ten Bears; Council Springs was located in Tep-pe-navon, or Painted Lips; Robinson County, Texas, near the To-sa-in, or Silver Brooch; Brazos River. The following Cear-chi-neka, or Standing Feather; Comanches signed (made “their mark”) Ho-we-ar, or Gap in the Woods; that Treaty: Tir-ha-yah-guahip, or Horse Back; Pah-ha-u-ca (Amorous Man); Es-a-nanaca, or Wolf’s Name; Mo-pe-chu-co-pe (); Ah-te-es-ta, or Little Horn; Cush-un-a-rah-ah (Ravisher); Pooh-yah-to-yeh-be, or Iron Mountain; Ka-bah-ha-moo (Won’t Smoke); Sad-dy-yo, or Dog Fat. O-ka-art-su (Rope Cutter); The names of the men were written as Moo-ra-que-top (Nasty Mule); they appeared on the Treaty, not as we Ta-bup-pue-ta (The Winner); would write them in our official spelling Kai-tai tah (Little); system. They signed the document by Kai-he-na-mou-rah (Blind Man); making “their mark.” Ho-chu-cah (Bird’s House); ______Pah-moo-wah-tah (No Tobacco); Mon-ne-con-nah-heh (Ring); OTHER TREATY SIGNERS Po-che-na-qua-heip (); The Treaty of 1835 was signed at Santa Anna; Camp Holmes, near the Canadian River Sa-ba-heit (Small Wolf); in the Muscogee Nation. The Quarah-ha-heit (Small Wolf); Comanches who signed, or “made their Ka-nah-mak-ka (Nearly Dead); mark” were: Ish-a-me-a-qui (Traveling Wolf); Ishacoly (The Wolf); Mo-he-ka (Polecat); Qyeenashano (War Eagle); A-ka-chu-a-ta (No Horn); Tabaqueena (Big Eagle); Ka-he-ha-bo-ne (Blind Man); Pohowetowshah (Brass Man); Ma-war-ra (The Lost); Shabbakasha (Roving Wolf); Ke-wid-da-wip-pa (Tall Woman); Neraquassi (Yellow Horse); Pa-na-che (Mistletoe). Toshapappy (White Hare); Pahohsareya (Broken Arm); THE TREATY OF 1853 Pahkah (Man Who Draws Bow); AT FORT ATKINSON Witsitony (He Who Sucks Quick); The Comanches signing this Treaty Leahwiddikah (One Who Stirs Up were listed with other information: Water); Wulea-boo (Shaved Head) Chief Esharotsiki (Sleeping Wolf); Comanche; Pahtrisula (Dog); Wa-ya-ba-tos-a (White Eagle) band Ettah (Gun); Chief; Tennowikah (Boy Who Was Soon A Hai-nick-seu (The Crow) band Chief; Man); Paro-sa-wa-no (Ten Sticks band Chief; Kumaquai (Woman Who Cuts Buffalo Wa-ra-kon-alta (Poor Coyote Wolf) band Chief;

3 Ka-na-re-tah (One That Rides The the Comanche Nation Games. Clouds) Chief of the Southern Publication date circa 2002.) Comanches; and ______To-che-ra-nah-boo (Shaved Head); Wa-ya-ba-to-sa (White Eagle); SPELLING CONTEST Hai-nick-seu (Crow); Ty-har-re-ty (One Who Runs After When I was typing in the above Women); information regarding the names of the Para-sar-a-man-no (Ten Bears). Comanche leaders who signed the various treaties, it occurred to me that TREATY OF 1865 AT we should have all of those names THE LITTLE ARKANSAS RIVER written in our official spelling system. This Treaty was signed in the state What I typed are the way non-Indians of Kansas, eight miles from the mouth of thought the names should be spelled. the Little Arkansas River. Even more So I thought about a contest of sorts information was provided for each that would allow those of you reading Comanche signer: this, who are students of the Comanche Tab-e-nan-i-kah, or Rising Sun, chief of language, to translate the names into Yampirica, or Root Eater band of our own spelling system. You could use Comanche, for Paddy-wah-say-mer and whatever research material you have Ho-to-yo-koh-wat’s bands; that would help you, and you would be Esh-e-tave-pa-rah, or Female Infant, rewarded with puhiwi. headman of Yampirica band of We would like to issue a special Comanches; invitation to the families who participated A-sha-hab-beet, or Milky Way, chief in Year One and those participating in Peen-taha, or Sugar Eater band of Year Two of our “Learning To Speak Comanches, and for Co-che-te-ka or Comanche” project to be a part of this Buffalo Eater band; fun and “rewarding” exercise in Queen-ah-e-vah, Eagle Drink-lug, head language. chief of No-co-nee or Go-About band of We will line out the guidelines for the Comanches; contest and have them in our next Ta-ha-yer-quoip, or Horse’s Back, newsletter, which will come out in second chief of No-co-nee or Go-About January of 2009. In the meantime, start band of Comanches; working on those names, as we may Pocha-naw-quoip, or Buffalo Hump, include a deadline for entries. As of this third chief of Peen-taka, or Sugar Eater moment you have three months to work band of Comanches; on it. Use your time wisely. Bo-yah-wah-to-yeh-he, or Iron ______Mountain, chief of Yampirica band of Comanches; and (*We bring you more stories from To-sa-wi, or Silver Brooch, head chief “Comanche Texts” by Emily Riddles. of Pennetaka band of Comanches. The overall chapter is about obtaining and preparing food, and the stories are (*All above information on Treaties were listed by their number, as they are in the reprinted from a publication titled book. We hope you enjoy reading and “Comanche Nation,” published by the hearing these old stories.) Comanche Nation and funded in part by

4 THE TEEPEE STORY #XXIX (29) eating some of their berries when their Long ago, we lived in teepees. My husbands arrived with their water and mother set up long cedar poles, then firewood. They took their load down she would set our house up on it and and put it on leaves beside their fire. tightly stake it. Inside she made a rain These two made coffee and also made house for us. She makes three fry bread. When it was all cooked they separate bedsteads for us that we will ate it. After they finished eating, the sleep on. She dug a fire hole where she women put away their dishes. The two would cook. In that fire hold she boils men sat down with buffalo meat and for us, roasts for us and cooks on coals deer meat and jerked it. They also ate for us. She would have a big biscuit as they worked. As they worked they oven where she baked biscuits for us. told stories. The women made a bed of Sometimes she cooked fry bread for us, nice soft cedar limbs. When the men and in the fire hole she also made finished jerking the meat, they made coffee for us. When we picked coffee by cooking it on coals. They hackberries she would pound them. hung their jerked meat over their meat She would roast fat on a stick for us that poles. Then they laid down and slept. It would taste good and oily and sweet. was a quiet morning and they got up, When we pulled up wild onions, she made a fire and made coffee. Then would cook it in ashes for us. We would they ate. The husbands said, “We will eat it with salt and with meats. That move back.” Their wives said, “Very tasted good. We would strip off the bark good.” They rounded up their horses, of a black berry tree, shave off its sap, saddled them and loaded up their pack take it and go to the creek. Then we animals. Mounting their horses and would chew our shavings. Chew it then leading their pack animals, they went wash it in the water. We do it that way, back to their relatives. When they then when it becomes clean, we would arrived, the other Indians came and got chew it as chewing gum. That chewing pounded meat from them. That is all. gum tasted really good. That is the way that we made our chewing gum. That is all. THE GRAPES STORY #XXXI (31) THE HUNTING STORY #XXX (30) Long ago, it is said, a woman and Long ago, it said, from Fort Sill two her grandchild went towards the Indian men went hunting. They camped mountain on a wagon. When they near many mountains that had little arrived there were many grapes. They creeks. Their women said, “We just got down from their wagon with their won’t make a house. We will have a buckets. They picked until their buckets house of these cedars, standing in a were full of grapes. They dumped their circle.” The men said that was good. buckets of grapes into the wagon and The women unsaddled their horses for kept on picking until they tired. Then them, took down their packs and made they took their little ax and chopped beds for them. One man went to fetch down the grape vines and threw them water, and one went to fetch firewood. into their wagon, filling it up. As the One woman went to pick huckleberries wagon was filling up, a big, angry bull on to the mountains. She picked a came running towards them. The child bucket full then went back to her camp. said, “This dangerous cow is coming When she arrived, the women were towards us,” and jumped into the

5 wagon. His grandmother got into the When they arrived, the women picked wagon, too. They went to their house. the turkeys of their feathers, then When they arrived, their relatives prepared a fire and cooked them. They unloaded the grapevines, and taking were saved from hunger when they their big dishpans, they stripped the killed the turkeys. That is all. vines of grapes and washed them. They placed the grapes in their wooden THE WILD HOG STORY #XXXIII (33) bowls, and using their pestles, pounded Long ago, it is said, Indians went to it. Completely pounded, they made balls pick pecans along Briar Creek. They of it. They placed big boards over their camped among much timber. When arbors and put the balls of grapes over they slept, they saw there were many them to dry. Doing it that way, they wild pigs. “We should shut our doors spread mosquito netting over the balls. tightly, those wild pigs will eat our After four days, when it was really dry, groceries for us,” they said. They went they loaded it into big sacks. In the to pick many pecans, also black berries. winter they would cook it, as it tasted They loaded their pickings in big sacks. sweet and good, and eat it. That is the When they went back to their camp, way they fixed wild grapes to eat. That their womenfolk said, “Those wild pigs is all. ate up all our groceries.” The men said, “Get your guns ready, we will kill those THE TURKEY STORY #XXXII (32) pigs. We don’t have anything to eat.” Somewhere, it is said, some had a When it was evening they were shooting camp. They became hungry. The in their camp and killed many pigs. women asked, “What are we going to They cut up the pigs, still in their skin, feed our children?” One of the women and hung them up. That night it said, “I thought of something good. suddenly clouded up and rained much. When it is evening we ought to go over It was still raining when morning came. there among the trees with our menfolk. One man, coming out from their camp, Another woman asked, “What will we looked along towards the creek. The do?” The first woman said, “We will man said, “As you were all going along drive those various turkeys from among someway, the water came up. You all the trees. As we drive them, our men know well that Briar Creek overflows can take their guns and stand along the easily. Hurry up! It already came up timber’s edge. Long ago that’s the way here.” Some threw their clothes into we killed turkeys to eat. Everyone went their wagons and others carried their from their camp on their feet and arrived clothes and ran onto the hill. As they there. The men, in the way the woman looked behind them, their belongings advised them, went to the edge of the and their teepees were floating. One timber. Then the women went through woman said, “ I forgot my ax and my the timber and sat down under a big oak skillet.” One man, dragging his teepee on which the turkeys perched. As the on horseback, came to them. The women were sitting there, many turkeys woman swam off towards their camping came flying and perched on the tree, place, where she found her ax and her then jumped to the ground. The women skillet as they were caught up in the ran towards them, and the turkeys ran to water. The men said, “Our pig meat all the edge of the timber. The men killed floated off. When it dries we will gather many of them. The men, carrying two it up along the way. When the water turkeys each, went back to their camp. went down and dried, they went along

6 the creek and found their pigs here and noses while we dig these.” Carrying there at various places hung on trees. their sacks of roots, they went back to The men said, “We did badly. We lost a their camp. When they arrived, each lot of our pigs.” They moved away from one went to their camp to make a fire that place and were hunting around. and cook their diggings. Some of them That is all. boiled it with bones, and some of them fried it in fat. One said, “I will just cook THE ROASTED RACOON STORY my diggings in ashes.” All of them #XXXIV (34) made coffee and lots of fry bread. Their Long ago, it is said, somewhere men said, “Feed us.” The women Indians had a home. The father said, spread a cloth and set out their cooked “Our firewood is used up.” He told his things. The men said it was very good, wife he would hitch up (their team) for what the women dug for them to eat. them and the two of them would go get They really ate good. “Tomorrow we will firewood. They went towards the creek kill one of those cowboy’s cows,” one of and came to a stop. They gathered the men said. “We just won’t starve, as wood and loaded it into their wagon until our food grows inside this earth.” The it was filled up. The man saw a snow next morning they killed a big fat cow, drift and he went there and poked and they jerked the meat. When the around in it with a big stick. There was meat dried they moved away. That is a raccoon in the drift and he killed it. He all. saw it was a fat one, and he said, “We are about to eat very good.” He threw it RATION DAY Story #XXXVI (36) into their wagon. They went home. A long time ago, we went to get When they got there, he unloaded the rations. Our agent had a house north of firewood and made a big fire. They Lawton. We went to that house to get skinned the raccoon and his wife rations, to that room. On ration day, our roasted it there in the fire. The family agent told us to camp. That day, all the ate the roasted raccoon that their father Indians would move there to camp. had killed for them. They ate good. The Then early on Saturday morning we father said, “Our children really ate would get rations, everything to eat, plus good.” After they had eaten, the soap. Some of the women would throw children ran around playing and felt away the soap. Others would say the really good about what they had eaten. rice was worms, and they would throw That is all. that away. My father would fix their rations for them. After they ate, they LILY ROOTS STORY #XXXV (35) would kill beef. Four families would A long time ago, it is said, other butcher one cow and divide it evenly tribes of Indians camped somewhere. among them. My father would fix that They ran out of groceries. The women for them. The Indians would get lots of set up their teepees. One of them said, groceries and meat, then move back to “We ought to go dig water lily roots in their own homes. When they opened that big lake and eat them for supper.” our country (for settlement by whites), They took their hoes and went to the they stopped doing that for us. That is lake. Taking off their shoes, with their all. hoes, they went down to the lake and dug up a lot of water lily roots. One of PRODUCTS FOR SALE them said to the others, “Don’t blow your Please go to www.comanchelanguage.org

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