Comanche Nation Programs host Youth Cultural Day

On Thursday, May 30, Comanche Nation’s IAMNDN, Prevention and Recovery, Youth Services, Diabetes, Language, Historic Preservation, Medical Center and Museum programs helped put on a youth Cultural Day at Watchetaker Hall for Edmond JOM youth council and Comanche and Kickapoo nations.

Kevin Wahkinney started the event.

IAMNDN Project Director Martin Flores said the day was a congregation of culture.

“There was Comanches in that Youth Council, Comanches, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws and even one Kiowa, and then with the Kickapoo Nation, they were all Kickapoos,” he said.

Flores said it’s essential for the youth to build camaraderie and network with other native students.

“And let them just kind of venture out and see what other nations out there and what they're doing, and what their Youth Councils are doing,” he said. “And just kind of network with them, and that…was the whole purpose of today other than showing them our culture and kind of sharing our stories, sharing our medicines with them.”

Flores said he and Wahkinney held several Zoom meetings to put on the cultural day.

“It consisted of several Zoom meetings with the Kickapoo Nation JOM Youth Council, and then with Prescription Assistance, which is Kevin's program, and then I believe the Comanche Language Programs and the Comanche Cultural Preservation Program,” he said.

Flores said it was great to see the youth network.

“And see them interact and even interact in some cultural games, which was hand game and even interact in a kickball game,” he said.

Flores wanted to thank everyone who pitched in and brought the food for the event.