Historic Preservation Brings National Day of Prayer to Comanche Nation
On Tuesday, August 15, the Comanche Nation Historic Preservation held a National Day of Prayer for sacred site protection.
There was Hymn Singing led by Anthony Nauni, a drum group, dinner and a slideshow showing sacred sites. The Day of Prayer ended with a circle prayer.
Comanche Nation Historic Preservation Officer Martina Minthorn said they’re making up for the summer solstice prayer.
“Which other tribes across the country have a sunrise or sunset or noontime prayer to be able to pray for our sacred sites across our eight states that we have,” she said. “We want to make sure that they're protected from desecration. And so today was just a good day to unite in song and prayer with our tribal members.”
August 15 is also the day the tribe won Comanche Nation vs. the United States of America.
“The court case right here was federal with the federal government at Medicine Bluff,” Minthorn said. “So, whenever they tried to build the warehouse near the vicinity of Medicine Bluff, my predecessor, Jimmy Arteberry, helped lead the battle there with the court to be able to ensure that the view scape of that vicinity is kept intact. And so, we were able to win that court case. And so that's what we wanted to bring everybody together to understand. Those are the things that we're trying to address and to ensure that those places are kept sacred and pristine.”
She said they’re trying to get buffalo from the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge to harvest for the Comanche Nation Fair.
“Building that relationship with it right now, we're looking forward to gathering some buffalo from them,” Minthorn said. “So also, being able to have access to their secure area just to be able to have our say in how the wildlife is. And so, we're just thankful that they are working with us and plants and being able to gather more there on the wildlife.”
She said they’re trying to reach out to the community for stories that may lead to any properties with burials or unmarked graves.
“Those are the things that we want to ensure that's protected locally,” Minthorn said. “And so if there's some cultural importance to our tribal members, say they might have a Native American church ground on their property. And so, generations to come, we want to be able to document that in case they want to sell that property. But they want to also not understand the significance to the history to that property. We want to document that for the tribal preservation.”
The Historic Preservation consult with Section 106 to address tribal issues with federal agencies. Protections include new infrastructure or ground disturbances.
Their next event will be during the Comanche Nation Fair at the buffalo harvesting.
