LAWTON, Okla. – The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center in Lawton hosts the national traveling exhibition 50 Years of Powwow on Sept. 14 through Jan. 3.
The public is invited to attend the opening event/reception on Sept. 24 at 1:06 p.m.
The event will feature tribal singing, dancing and the recognition of four Comanche Powwow Societies.
Those societies include: Walters Service Club, Comanche Little Ponies, Comanche War Scouts and the Comanche Homecoming Committee.
Tribal Chairman Mike Burgess will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Light refreshments will be available after the event and will include a sampling of traditional Comanche Foods.
The opening of this exhibit kicks off the start of the 18th Annual Comanche Nation Fair.
The 50 Years of Powwow exhibit was conceived and organized by the American Indian Center of Chicago, and developed by The Field Museum.
The exhibition consists of photographs that document the traditional gathering of American Indians that has become a tradition in communities nationwide.
Powwows are places and times to rekindle old friendships, reaffirm traditional values, share and introduce the vivid and vital spectacle of contemporary Indian culture to the larger community.
The powwow is a celebration and extension of Indian traditions and an important vehicle for transmitting those traditions to younger generations
The photographs in the exhibition depict dancers, drummers, singers, craftspeople, and traditional foods, and explore how American Indians retain their traditional cultures and languages in today’s urban world.
The exhibit is augmented with items and photographs on loan from the Comanche Nation Community.
“This is our biggest exhibition of the year,” said Museum Director Phyllis Wahahrockah-Tasi. “In addition to the Field Museum’s items visitors can expect to see a vibrant display of Comanche Dance Regalia including a collection of women’s Buckskin Dresses.
One piece we are really excited to show is 19th Century dress that belongs to Comanche Elder Weakeah Bradley. Mrs. Bradley is a direct descendant of Chief Quanah Parker and she has loaned us a Buckskin Dress made from a buffalo hide that was skinned by Quanah Parker,” Tasi said.
The exhibit offers visitors the chance to learn about American Indian Culture and History in a way they might not otherwise experience unless they traveled to Chicago to visit the Field Museum.
“This is a great opportunity for the people to see a little piece of a major metropolitan museum. This exhibit is a collaborative of our entire effort of our staff who has worked hard over the past year to bring yet another exciting educational exhibit to the Lawton-Fort Sill Community,” Tasi said.
The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center offers visitors a glimpse of traditional cultural objects and detailed history about the Comanche People. CNMCC is home to a variety of collections including Fine Art, the Iggly and Chibitty Collections, Fort Sill Indian School, and Comanche Military.
A library and photo archives are also on site. CNMCC is located at 701 NW Ferris Avenue, behind McMahon Auditorium. Admission is free and tour groups are welcome.
Call 580-353-0404 for more information or visit www.comanchemuseum.com.