The Comanche Nomads of the Southern Plains

1. The ComancheNomads of the Southern Plains

2. Introduction • Main Points within Presentation: • The Comanche and their Traditional Life (traditions) • Role of Men, Women and Children within the tribe (food) • How Geographic characteristics influenced the Comanche (tools/shelter) • References There is much to learn about the Comanche, or as they call themselves, the Numunuh. Throughout this presentation you will learn about the past and present history of the Comanche people.

3. The Comanche and their Traditional Life • The Comanche • The Comanche call themselves the “Numunuh” meaning the people • They are plains Indians who originally lived in the Great Plains • Today there are roughly 10,000 Comanche people in the United States Traditional Life of the Comanche The Comanche were a mobile people who lived in teepees They moved their camp to follow herds of buffalo that they hunted for survival Buffalo were very important to the Comanche people they used them in the following ways: they ate their meat, used their skin to make clothing and teepees, used their stomachs to carry water, the bones to make cups and spoons and the sinew to sew clothing

4. Roles within the tribe Comanche Women Comanche women played an important role within the tribe. They accomplished the following tasks: built shelters, tanned buffalo hides, set up and took down teepees, sewed clothes, took care of children, gathered firewood and food, prepared food and made teepees Comanche Men Comanche men also completed important jobs within the tribe. They were responsible for: hunting buffalo in the summer, making weapons, trading with other tribes, teaching children how to hunt and how to ride a horse on a hunt Comanche Children Comanche girls watched and listened to their mothers to learn how to perform all the tasks expected of women later in life. They practiced sewing dolls and learned to cook by helping their mothers. Comanche boys spent much time with their grandfathers learning how to make weapons and hunting techniques such as shooting from below a horse to prepare them for manhood.

5. How Geographic characteristics influenced the Comanche Food: The Comanche lived on the plains and much of their food was derived from the buffalo, a common plains animal before the 17th Century. Clothing: The Comanche made their clothes using animal hide and sinew. The buffalo hide was tanned and softened by the women of the tribe. Shelter: The Comanche were nomadic hunters whose movements were determined by buffalo herds. Therefore, they made teepees from buffalo hide which were portable, waterproof and large enough to accommodate up to twenty people. Customs: The Comanche’s way of life was affected by their environment, their lifestyle was highly dependent on buffalo. They practiced their own type of religion based on their belief of spirits that aided them in everyday life.

6. References Image: 'Buena Vista: Abandoned Comanche Drive-In Theater' http://www.flickr.com/photos/80547277@N00/6073910660 Englar, Mary. The Comanche. (2004) Capstone Press, Mankato Minnesota. Image: 'Kiowa Three-Hide Dress' http://www.flickr.com/photos/93752018@N00/2134504403 Image: 'Flag Indigenous People, Comanche Nation, United States' http://www.flickr.com/photos/24842486@N07/3443694734 http://www.native-languages.org/kids.htm http://www.ahsd25.k12.il.us/Curriculum%20Info/NativeAmericans/index.html Image: 'Teepee' http://www.flickr.com/photos/53323105@N02/5947093873

7. Websites http://www.learner.org/interactives/historymap/indians6.html http://www.worldbookonline.com/kids/home