Comanche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Comanche
Nʉmʉnʉʉ

Total population
17,000 enrolled Comanche Nation (2021), 28,193 self-identified, US census (2020)
Regions with significant populations
United States (Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico)
Languages
English, Comanche
Religion
Native American Church, Christianity, traditional tribal religion
Related ethnic groups
Shoshone, Timbisha, and other Numic peoples

Nʉmʉ / Kɨmantsi "Person" / "Enemy, stranger"
Person	Nʉmʉ
People	Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comanche)
Language	Nʉmʉ Tekwapʉ̲ Mootekwaʔpʉ̠ (Hand Talk)
Country	Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ (Comancheria)

The Comanche, also known as Nʉmʉnʉʉ (meaning 'the people'), are a Native American tribe from the Southern Plains of what is now the United States. Today, Comanche people are part of the federally recognized Comanche Nation. Its main offices are in Lawton, Oklahoma.

The Comanche language is a Numic language. It belongs to the Uto-Aztecan family. Originally, it was a dialect of Shoshoni, but it grew into its own language. The Comanche were once part of the Shoshone people from the Great Basin.

In the 1700s and 1800s, Spanish and Mexican settlers called the Comanche lands Comanchería. Some historians even called it an empire. The Comanche lived in parts of northwestern Texas and nearby areas in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and western Oklahoma. They were known for their nomadic horse culture and for hunting, especially bison. They traded with other Native American groups and with Spanish, French, and American settlers. At their strongest, the Comanche language was a common language in the southern Great Plains. It is estimated that their population ranged from 10,000 to 30,000 people.

The Comanche were skilled warriors. They often traveled far to gather horses and other animals. They also took captives, sometimes adopting them into their tribe. Many captives, including some Anglo-Americans, became part of Comanche society.

Sadly, diseases brought by Europeans, the loss of bison herds, and conflicts with the U.S. army led the Comanche to move to reservations in the mid-1870s.

Today, the Comanche Nation has about 17,000 members. Around 7,000 of them live in tribal areas near Lawton, Fort Sill, and other parts of southwestern Oklahoma. The Comanche Homecoming Annual Dance takes place every July in Walters, Oklahoma.

The Comanche Name

The Comanche call themselves nʉmʉnʉʉ, which means 'the human beings' or 'the people'. The name "Comanche" was first used in 1706. Spanish officials reported that the Comanche were preparing to attack Pueblo settlements. The Spanish adopted the name from the Ute people: kɨmantsi, meaning 'enemy'. They spelled it Comanche.

Tribal Government

The Comanche Nation's main office is in Lawton, Oklahoma. Their tribal area covers parts of Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Greer, Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman, and Harmon Counties. The tribe requires its members to have at least one-eighth Comanche ancestry.

Economic Growth

The Comanche Nation runs its own housing programs. They also issue special vehicle tags for tribal members. They have a Department of Higher Education that helps students with college scholarships. The tribe owns 10 tribal smoke shops and six casinos:

• Comanche Nation Casino in Lawton, Oklahoma
• Red River Casino in Devol, Oklahoma
• Comanche Spur Casino in Elgin, Oklahoma
• Comanche Star Casino in Walters, Oklahoma
• Comanche Cache Casino in Cache, Oklahoma
• Comanche Nation Travel Plaza Casino in Devol, Oklahoma

Cultural Centers

The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center in Lawton teaches about Comanche history and culture. It has both permanent and changing exhibits. The museum opened in 2007.

In 2002, the tribe started the Comanche Nation College. It was a two-year college in Lawton. It closed in 2017 due to issues with its accreditation and funding.

Every year in April, the Annual General Council meets. They approve the yearly budget and nominate new leaders. Tribal members can also suggest ideas to be voted on. In July, Comanches from all over the United States gather in Walters for the annual Comanche Homecoming powwow. The Comanche Nation Fair happens every September. The Comanche Little Ponies group hosts two annual dances, one around New Year's Eve and another in May.

Comanche History

How the Comanche Formed

The Comanche's move to the Plains was part of a larger movement of Shoshonean-speaking people. The Kotsoteka ("Bison Eaters") were likely among the first to move. Other groups followed. They kept in touch with the Shoshones in Wyoming until the 1830s. This connection ended when the Cheyennes and Arapahoes moved into the area.

After the Pueblo Revolt in 1680, many Plains people got horses. But it took some time for horses to become common. As late as 1725, Comanches were described as using large dogs to carry their bison-hide tents.

Horses became very important to the Comanche way of life. They were so important that some experts believe the Comanche left the Shoshone to find more horses from settlers in New Spain. They also looked for new bison herds. The Comanche were among the first Plains people to use horses for a long time. They had horses when the Cheyenne still lived in earth lodges.

The Comanche traded horses and mules with everyone. By 1795, they were selling horses to Anglo-American traders. By the mid-1800s, Comanche horses were being traded to St. Louis through other Native American groups.

Their journey took them to the southern Great Plains. This area stretched from the Arkansas River to central Texas. The first Spanish records mentioning them are from 1706. These reports said that Utes and Comanches were planning an attack. As the Comanche moved forward, they pushed the Apaches off the Plains. By the late 1700s, the battles between Comanche and Apache were legendary.

The Comanche were strong warriors. They developed ways to use traditional weapons while fighting on horseback. Warfare was a big part of Comanche life. Their travels into Mexico often happened during the full moon. This allowed them to ride at night. This time was called "Comanche Moon." During this time, the Comanche gathered horses, captives, and weapons. These travels, especially in the 1840s, went deep into Mexico. They caused much damage to the northern parts of the country.

Comanche Groups

Before reservations, Comanche society had different levels of organization. These included families, extended family groups, and larger bands. A band was the main social unit. It could have several hundred people. Bands were family groups, often centered around related men. The leader of a band was called paraivo, or "chief."

Unlike the neighboring Cheyenne and Arapaho, the Comanche did not have one single political unit or "Nation" in earlier centuries. Instead, different groups, which were like small tribes, acted on their own. They pursued their own goals for hunting, trade, and war.

Before the 1750s, the Spanish identified three main Comanche groups: Hʉpenʉʉ, Yaparʉhka, and Kʉhtsʉtʉhka. Over time, these groups changed. This was often due to changes in resources or alliances.

The Kʉhtsʉtʉhka (Buffalo Eaters) were likely the first Comanche group to separate from the Eastern Shoshone. The Hʉpenʉʉ group disappeared from history in the early 1800s. They probably joined other groups. Many Yaparʉhka moved southeast and became known as the Tahnahwah.

Later, other powerful groups emerged. These included the Nokoni Nʉʉ (Wanderers) and the Kwaarʉ Nʉʉ (Antelope Eaters). The Yaparʉhka (Root Eaters) were the northernmost Comanche group. They kept many of their Eastern Shoshone traditions.

Some groups from other peoples joined the Comanche. An Arapaho group became the Saria Tʉhka (Dog Eaters). An Eastern Shoshone group became the Pohoi (Wild Sage) band. A Plains Apache group became the Tasipenanʉʉ band.

Texans and Americans often divided the Comanche into five large groups. These were the Yaparʉhka, Kʉhtsʉtʉhka, Nokoni Nʉʉ, Penatʉka Nʉʉ, and Kwaarʉ Nʉʉ. These were then grouped into Northern, Middle, Southern, and Western Comanche. These names did not always match the names the Comanche used for themselves.

The Northern Comanche included the Yaparʉhka and Kʉhtsʉtʉhka. They lived between the Arkansas and Canadian Rivers. They also roamed the High Plains of Oklahoma and Texas. The Palo Duro Canyon offered them shelter from storms and enemies.

The Middle Comanche included the Nokoni Nʉʉ. They lived between the Red River and the Colorado River. Their preferred areas were near the Brazos River. Two smaller bands, the Tahnahwah and Tanimʉʉ, also lived in these areas.

The Southern Comanche included the Penatʉka Nʉʉ (Honey Eaters). They were the southernmost and largest group. They lived near the first Spanish and Texan settlements. Their lands stretched from central Texas to the Colorado River.

The Western Comanche included the Kwaarʉ Nʉʉ (Antelope Eaters). This group developed later in the 1800s. They lived in the desert plains of the Llano Estacado. They found shelter in Tule Canyon and Palo Duro Canyon. They were the only group that never signed a treaty with Texans or Americans. They were the last to stop fighting.

Comanche Wars

The Comanche fought many battles. They fought against Spanish, Mexican, and American armies. They also fought against many other tribes, especially the Apache. As they moved south, they pushed out or absorbed other tribes from these lands. By the 1760s, many Apache groups had disappeared. The Comanche were known as fierce warriors who fought hard for their homeland, Comancheria. However, the large number of settlers and the diseases they brought caused the Comanche's power to decline. This ended their major presence in the southern Great Plains.

Relationships with Settlers

The Comanche had a complex relationship with Europeans and later settlers. They were valued as trading partners since 1786 through the Comancheros of New Mexico. But they were also feared for their travels against settlers in Texas. They were at war with almost every other Native American group on the South Plains at different times. This created opportunities for European powers and the United States to get involved. Sam Houston, president of the new Republic of Texas, almost made a peace treaty with the Comanche in 1844. This was the Treaty of Tehuacana Creek. But his efforts failed when the Texas Legislature refused to create a clear border between Texas and Comancheria.

While the Comanche kept their independence and grew their territory, they faced great challenges by the mid-1800s. Many died from European diseases like smallpox and measles, to which they had no natural protection. Their population dropped from about 20,000 in the late 1700s to only a few thousand by the 1870s.

In the late 1860s, the U.S. government tried to move the Comanche to reservations. The Treaty of Medicine Lodge (1867) offered churches, schools, and payments. In return, the Comanche would give up a large area of land. The government promised to stop buffalo hunters, who were killing off the great bison herds. The Comanche, along with the Apaches, Kiowas, Cheyenne, and Arapahos, were to move to a smaller reservation. However, the government did not stop the buffalo hunting.

The Comanche, led by Quenatosavit White Eagle (also known as Isa-tai), fought back. They attacked hunters in the Texas Panhandle in the Second Battle of Adobe Walls (1874). This attack was not successful for the Comanche. The U.S. army was called in during the Red River War. They forced the remaining Comanche in the area onto the reservation. This ended with the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon. Within just 10 years, bison were almost gone. This effectively ended the Comanche way of life as hunters. In May 1875, the last free group of Comanches, led by warrior Quanah Parker, surrendered. They moved to the Fort Sill reservation in Oklahoma.

The 1890 Census showed 1,598 Comanche at the Fort Sill reservation. They shared it with 1,140 Kiowa and 326 Kiowa Apache.

Meusebach–Comanche Treaty

The Peneteka band made a peace treaty with the German Immigration Company. This was led by John O. Meusebach. This treaty was not connected to any government. Meusebach arranged the treaty to settle lands in the Fisher-Miller Land Grant. This area later formed 10 counties in Texas. This treaty was short and simple. All parties agreed to work together and share the land. It was signed on May 9, 1847, in Fredericksburg, Texas. The treaty was specifically between the Peneteka band and the German Immigration Company. No other group was involved.

Fort Martin Scott Treaty

In 1850, another treaty was signed in San Saba. This was between the United States government and several local tribes, including the Comanche. This treaty was named after the nearby Fort Martin Scott. However, this treaty was never officially approved by the government. It was only binding for the Native Americans.

Cherokee Commission Agreement

The Agreement with the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache was signed with the Cherokee Commission in 1892. This agreement further reduced their reservation land. It cost $1.25 per acre. Each person in the tribe received 160 acres to be held in trust. New land was given in 1906 to children born after the agreement. The remaining land was then opened for white settlement. This new arrangement quickly ended the era of the Comanche reservation.

Captive Herman Lehmann

One famous captive in Texas was a German boy named Herman Lehmann. He was first taken by the Apache. He later escaped and was rescued by the Comanche. Lehmann became the adopted son of Quanah Parker. In 1901, Quanah Parker officially stated that Lehmann was his adopted son from 1877–1878. In 1908, the United States Congress gave Lehmann 160 acres of land in Oklahoma. This was because he was an adopted member of the Comanche Nation.

Recent History

Joining the Western economy was hard for the Comanche in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many tribal members lost their land and belongings unfairly. Chief Quanah Parker was appointed paramount chief by the U.S. government. He worked hard for better deals for his people. He often met with politicians in Washington. He also helped manage land for the tribe.

Parker became a successful cattleman. He also fought for the Comanches' right to practice their Native American Church religious rites. This included the use of peyote, which was not approved by European Americans.

Before the first Oklahoma legislature, Quanah said:

I do not think this legislature should interfere with a man's religion, also these people should be allowed to retain this health restorer. These healthy gentleman before you use peyote and those that do not use it are not so healthy.

During World War II, many Comanche left their traditional lands in Oklahoma. They sought jobs and more opportunities in cities in California and the Southwest. About half of the Comanche population still lives in Oklahoma, mainly around Lawton.

Recently, an 80-minute silent film from 1920 was found again. It is called The Daughter of Dawn. It features over 300 Comanche and Kiowa actors.

Comanche Culture

Childbirth and Babies

If a woman was having a baby in camp, she went to a special tipi or brush lodge. Older women helped as midwives. Men were not allowed inside during or right after the birth.

After the birth, the midwives hung the umbilical cord on a hackberry tree. People believed that if the cord was not disturbed, the baby would live a long and happy life.

The newborn was swaddled and stayed with its mother for a few days. The baby was placed in a cradleboard. The mother could easily carry it on her back or prop it up while she worked. Cradleboards were made of a flat board with a basket or leather pouch. Soft, dry moss was used as a diaper. Babies stayed in cradleboards for about ten months.

Both girls and boys were welcomed, but boys were especially favored. If a baby was a boy, the father or grandfather was told, "It's your close friend." Families might paint their tipi to show they had a new warrior. Sometimes a father named his child. More often, he asked a medicine man or respected elder to do so. This was done hoping the child would have a long and good life. During the naming ceremony, the medicine man prayed for the child's happiness and health. He lifted the child and announced the name four times, each time a little higher. It was believed the name could predict the child's future. Even a weak child could grow up to be a great warrior if given a strong name. Boys were often named after relatives. Girls were usually named after one of their father's relatives, chosen by the mother. Children also got nicknames throughout their lives.

Growing Up Comanche

The Comanche saw their children as their most precious gift. Children were rarely punished. Sometimes, an older relative would help discipline a child. Parents might also arrange for a boogey man to scare disobedient children. Occasionally, old people dressed in sheets to frighten boys and girls. Children were also told about Big Maneater Owl (Pia Mupitsi). This owl lived in a cave in the Wichita Mountains and ate bad children at night.

Children learned by watching and listening to their parents and others. As soon as she could walk, a girl followed her mother. She played at cooking and making clothes. She was also very close to her mother's sisters, whom she called "mother." She was given a small deerskin doll and learned to make clothes for it.

A boy looked up to his father and his father's family. He also admired the bravest warriors. He learned to ride a horse before he could walk. By age four or five, he was expected to ride skillfully. At five or six, he received a small bow and arrows. Often, his grandfather taught him to ride and shoot. His father and other warriors were often away on hunts or travels. His grandfather also shared stories of his own youth and Comanche history.

As boys grew, they hunted birds with other boys. They eventually went farther from camp to find bigger game. Boys were encouraged to be good hunters. They learned to read the signs of the prairie and to stalk game patiently. They became more self-reliant. By playing together, they also learned teamwork, which was important for hunting and warfare.

Boys were highly respected because they would become warriors. They might die young in battle. As a boy neared manhood, around age 15 or 16, he went on his first buffalo hunt. If he made a kill, his father honored him with a feast. Only after proving himself on a buffalo hunt could a young man go to war.

When a young man was ready to become a warrior, he first went on a vision quest. This was a special journey to find spiritual guidance. After this quest, his father gave him a good horse for battle and another for travel. If he proved himself as a warrior, a Give Away Dance might be held for him. During this dance, his parents and relatives threw gifts at his feet. These included blankets and sticks representing horses. Anyone could take a gift, though those with many possessions usually did not. People often gave away all their belongings during these dances, helping others in the band.

Girls learned to gather berries, nuts, and roots. They carried water and collected wood. Around age 12, they learned to cook, make tipis, sew clothes, prepare hides, and other tasks needed to be a wife and mother. They were then considered ready for marriage.

Death and Burial

In the 1800s, the Comanche wrapped the body of the deceased in a blanket. It was placed on a horse behind a rider. The rider would then search for a suitable burial place, like a secure cave. After placing the body, the rider covered it with stones. Then, they returned to camp. Mourners burned all the deceased's belongings. The main mourner showed their deep sadness. The Quahada band followed this custom longer than others. They buried their relatives in the Wichita Mountains. Later, Christian missionaries encouraged Comanche people to bury their dead in coffins in graveyards, which is the practice today.

Travel and Homes

When they lived with the Shoshone, the Comanche used dog-drawn travois for travel. Later, they got horses from other tribes and the Spanish. Horses were faster, easier to control, and stronger. This helped with hunting, warfare, and moving camp. They could make larger homes because horses could pull and carry more belongings. Horses were also easier to feed than dogs, as meat was valuable. Horses were extremely important to the Comanche. A man's wealth was measured by the size of his horse herd. Horses were often stolen during raids. Raids were often done just to capture horses. Hundreds of horses were often taken by Comanche during raids against other Native American nations, Spanish, Mexicans, and later Texan ranches. Horses were used for warfare, and the Comanche were known as excellent mounted warriors.

The Comanche covered their tipis with buffalo hides sewn together. Women prepared the hides by scraping off fat and flesh. They dried them in the sun. Then, they scraped off the thick hair and soaked the hides in water. After several days, they rubbed them with a mixture of fat, brains, and liver to soften them. They softened them more by rinsing and working them over a rawhide rope. Finally, they smoked them over a fire, which gave them a tan color. To make the tipi cover, women stitched up to 22 hides together, though 14 was common. The cover was tied to a pole and raised. It wrapped around the cone-shaped frame and was pinned with wooden skewers. Two flaps at the top could be adjusted to keep out moisture and hold insulating air. With a fire pit in the center, tipis stayed warm in winter. In summer, the bottom edges could be rolled up for a breeze. Cooking was done outside in hot weather. Tipis were very practical homes for nomads. Women could quickly set them up or take them down. An entire Comanche band could pack up and follow a buffalo herd in about 20 minutes. Women did most of the food processing and preparation.

Food and Hunting

The Comanche were originally hunter-gatherers. When they lived in the Rocky Mountains, both men and women gathered and provided food. When they reached the plains, hunting became most important. Hunting was a male activity and brought much respect. For meat, the Comanche hunted bison, elk, black bear, pronghorn, and deer. When game was scarce, men hunted wild mustangs. Sometimes they even ate their own ponies. Later, the Comanche raided Texas ranches for longhorn cattle. They did not eat fish or birds unless they were starving.

Women prepared and cooked bison meat and other game. Women also gathered wild fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, roots, and tubers. These included plums, grapes, juniper berries, persimmons, mulberries, acorns, pecans, wild onions, radishes, and the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. The Comanche also got maize, dried pumpkin, and tobacco through trade and raids. They roasted meat over a fire or boiled it. To boil meat and vegetables, women dug a pit. They lined it with animal skins or a bison stomach and filled it with water. They placed heated stones in the water until it boiled and cooked their stew. After contact with the Spanish, Comanche traded for copper pots and iron kettles, which made cooking easier.

Women used berries and nuts, honey, and tallow to flavor bison meat. They stored tallow in intestine casings or rawhide pouches. They especially liked a sweet mush of bison marrow mixed with crushed mesquite beans.

The Comanches sometimes ate raw meat, especially raw liver. They also used parts of animals in unique ways.

Comanche generally ate a light breakfast and a large dinner. They ate during the day when hungry or convenient. Like other Plains tribes, the Comanche were very welcoming. They prepared meals whenever a visitor arrived. This made outsiders think Comanches ate all the time. Many families gave thanks before meals.

Comanche children ate pemmican. This was a high-energy food saved for war parties. Carried in a parfleche pouch, pemmican was eaten only when men had no time to hunt. In camp, people ate pemmican only when other food was scarce. Traders ate pemmican sliced and dipped in honey, calling it Indian bread.

Clothing Styles

Comanche clothing was simple and comfortable. Men wore a leather belt with a breechcloth. This was a long piece of buckskin that went between the legs and looped over the belt. They also wore loose-fitting deerskin leggings. Moccasins had tough buffalo hide soles and soft deerskin tops. Men wore nothing on their upper body, except in winter. Then, they wore heavy buffalo hide robes and knee-length buffalo-hide boots. Young boys usually went naked unless it was cold. By age 8 or 9, they wore adult clothing. In the 1800s, men started using woven cloth for breechcloths and wore loose buckskin shirts. Women wore long deerskin dresses with flared skirts and wide, long sleeves. These had buckskin fringes on the sleeves and hem. Beads and metal pieces were added in geometric patterns. Women wore buckskin moccasins with buffalo soles. They decorated their clothes with fringes of deerskin, animal fur, and human hair. They also used beads and fabric scraps. In winter, they wore warm buffalo robes and tall, fur-lined buffalo-hide boots. Girls old enough to walk wore breechcloths. By age 12 or 13, they wore women's clothing.

Hair and Headgear

Comanche people were proud of their long hair. They brushed it with porcupine quill brushes, greased it, and parted it down the middle. They painted the scalp along the part with yellow, red, or white clay. They wore their hair in two long braids tied with leather or colored cloth. Sometimes, they wrapped the braids with beaver fur. They also braided a thin strand of hair from the top of their head. This "scalp lock" was decorated with colored cloth, beads, and a single feather. Comanche men rarely wore anything on their heads. Only after moving to reservations in the late 1800s did men start wearing the typical Plains headdress. In very cold weather, they might wear a brimless, woolly buffalo hide hat. For war, some warriors wore a headdress made from a buffalo scalp. This type of hat was unique to the Comanche. Women did not grow their hair as long as men. Young women might wear long, braided hair. But older women parted their hair in the middle and kept it short. Like the men, they painted their scalp along the part with bright paint.

Body Decoration

Comanche men often had pierced ears with earrings made of shell pieces or brass/silver wire loops. A female relative would pierce the outer edge of the ear with several holes. Men also tattooed their face, arms, and chest with geometric designs. They painted their face and body. Traditionally, they used paints made from berry juice and colored clays. Later, traders provided vermilion (red pigment) and bright grease paints. Men wore leather bands and metal strips on their arms. Except for black, which was the color for war, there was no standard color or pattern for face and body painting. It was a personal choice. For example, one man might paint one side of his face white and the other red. Another might paint one side of his body green and the other with green and black stripes. Some designs had special meaning to the individual. Special colors and designs might have been revealed in a dream. Women might also tattoo their face or arms. They enjoyed painting their bodies as they pleased. It was popular for women to paint the insides of their ears bright red. They also painted large orange and red circles on their cheeks. They usually painted red and yellow around their lips.

Art and Tools

Because they traveled often, the Comanche needed household goods that would not break. They did not use pottery. They also did not do weaving, wood carving, or metal working. Instead, they used buffalo for most of their tools, household items, and weapons. They made almost 200 different useful items from buffalo horns, hide, and bones.

Women used the lining of the inner stomach to make water bags. This lining was stretched over sticks and filled with water to make a pot for cooking soups and stews. Wood was scarce on the plains, so women used buffalo chips (dried dung) for cooking and heat.

Stiff rawhide was used for saddles, stirrups, knife cases, buckets, and moccasin soles. Rawhide was also made into rattles and drums. Strips of rawhide were twisted into strong ropes. Rawhide skins, scraped white, were folded to make parfleches. These were used to store food, clothing, and other personal items. Women also tanned hides to make soft buckskin. This was used for tipi covers, warm robes, blankets, clothes, and moccasins. They used buckskin for bedding, cradles, dolls, bags, pouches, quivers, and gun cases.

Sinew (animal tendons) was used for bowstrings and sewing thread. Hooves were turned into glue and rattles. Horns were shaped into cups, spoons, and ladles. The tail made a whip, fly-swatter, or tipi decoration. Men made tools, scrapers, needles, pipes, and children's toys from bones. But men focused on making bows and arrows, lances, and shields. The thick neck skin of an old bull was perfect for war shields. These shields could stop arrows and even bullets. Since they spent most of their day on horseback, they also made leather saddles and other equipment for their horses. Buffalo hair was used to fill saddle pads and for ropes and halters.

Comanche Language

The language spoken by the Comanche people is called Comanche (Nʉmʉ tekwapʉ̲). It is a Numic language from the Uto-Aztecan language group. It is closely related to the Shoshone language. The Comanche language separated from Shoshone around 1700. The two languages are still similar, but some small sound changes make them hard to understand for each other's speakers. Early records from 1786 show Comanche as a Shoshone dialect. But by the early 1900s, these sound changes had made Comanche sound quite different. Today, efforts are being made to keep the language alive. However, most speakers are elderly, and less than 1% of Comanches can speak it.

In the late 1800s, many Comanche children went to boarding schools with children from different tribes. They were taught English and discouraged from speaking their native language. It is said that speaking English was strictly enforced.

Quanah Parker learned and spoke English. He insisted that his own children do the same. The next generation grew up speaking English. Many believed it was better for them not to know Comanche.

Comanches were among the first Native Americans used as code talkers by the U.S. Army during World War I.

During World War II, a group of 17 young Comanche men were trained. They were called "the Comanche code talkers." They used their language to send secret messages for the U.S. Army. The Germans could not understand these messages.

Famous Comanche People

Historic Comanche Leaders

These are notable Comanche people from the 1700s and 1800s.

• Amorous Man (Pahayoko) (late 1780s – c. 1860), Penateka chief
• Black Horse (died ca. 1900), second chief of the Quahadi band
• Buffalo Hump (Potsʉnakwahipʉ) (c. 1800 – c. 1865/1870), war chief and later head chief of the Penateka division
• Tavibo Naritgant, Cuerno Verde (died 1779), war chief
• Horseback (Tʉhʉyakwahipʉ) (c. 1805/1810 – c. 1888), chief of the Nokoni band
• Iron Jacket (Puhihwikwasu'u) (c. 1790 – 1858), war chief and later head chief of the Quahadi band; father of Peta Nocona
• Isatai (c. 1840–c. 1890), warrior and medicine man of the Quahadi
• Mow-way (Shaking Hand, Pushing-in-the-Middle) (c. 1825 – 1886), Kotsoteka chief
• Old Owl (Mupitsukupʉ) (late 1780s – 1849), Penateka chief
• Peta Nocona (Lone Wanderer) (c. 1820 – c. 1864), chief of the Quahadi division; father of Quanah Parker
• Quanah Parker (c. 1845 – 1911), Quahadi chief, a founder of Native American Church and rancher
• White Parker (1887–1956), son of Quanah Parker and Methodist missionary
• Piaru-ekaruhkapu (Big Red Meat) (ca. 1820/1825 – 1875), Nokoni chief
• Sanapia (1895–1984), medicine woman
• Santa Anna (c. 1800 – c. 1849), war chief of the Penateka Band
• Spirit Talker (Mukwooru) (c. 1780 – 1840), Penateka chief and medicine man
• Ten Bears (Pawʉʉrasʉmʉnunʉ) (c. 1790 – 1872), chief of the Ketahto band and later of the entire Yamparika division
• Tomassa (c. 1840–1900), translator
• Tosawi (White Knife) (c. 1805/1810 – c. 1878/1880), chief of the Penateka band
• Yellow Wolf (Isa-viah) (c. 1800/1805 – 1854), war chief of the Penateka division

Modern Comanche Citizens

These are Comanche Nation citizens from the 1900s and 2000s.

• Charon Asetoyer (born 1951), activist and women's health advocate
• Chad Gable (born 1986), professional wrestler
• Charles Chibitty (1921–2005), World War II Comanche code talker
• Karita Coffey, Tsat-Tah Mo-oh Kahn (born 1947), ceramic artist, professor, sculptor
• Marie C. Cox (1920–2005), founder of the North American Indian Women's Association and foster care reform advocate
• Jesse Ed Davis (1944–1988), guitarist and recording artist
• LaDonna Harris (born 1931), political activist and founder of Americans for Indian Opportunity
• Rance Hood (1941–2024), artist
• Janee' Kassanavoid (born 1995), athlete (hammer throw)
• Dorothy Sunrise Lorentino (1909–2005), educator, activist, sister of Morris Tabbyyetchy.
• Doc Tate Nevaquaya (1932–1996), Flatstyle painter, Native American flute-player, NEA fellow
• Sonny Nevaquaya (d. 2019), Native American flute-player
• Diane O'Leary (1939–2013), artist, nurse
• Lotsee Patterson (born 1931), librarian, educator, and founder of the American Indian Library Association
• Paul Chaat Smith, Comanche/Choctaw author, curator
• George Tahdooahnippah "Comanche Boy" (born 1978), professional boxer and NABC super middleweight champion
• Josephine Wapp (1912–2014), professor, regalia maker, textile artist
• David Yeagley (1951–2014), classical composer, political writer

Population Changes Over Time

In 1832, Comanche chiefs told George Catlin their tribe had up to 40,000 people. They could gather up to 8,000 warriors. In 1774, a French trader, J. Gaignard, wrote that one Comanche group had 4,000 warriors. In 1786, Spaniards estimated the Comanche might have numbered up to 30,000. Jedidiah Morse estimated the Comanche at 38,000 to 41,000 around 1820.

The Comanche population quickly declined in the second half of the 1800s. The census of 1890 found only 1,598 in Oklahoma. By 1910, the census reported only 1,171.

Comanche population has grown again in the 1900s and 2000s. There are 17,000 Comanche Nation citizens today. In the 2020 US census, 39,808 Americans said they were Comanche.

See also

In Spanish: Comanche (etnia) para niños