Comanche Nation Museum honored for 2022 exhibit

As the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center readies its latest exhibit for the upcoming Comanche Nation Fair, it was recognized for its 2022 exhibit recognizing murdered and missing indigenous women.

Special recognition by the Oklahoma Museum Association awards ceremony on Sept. 14 in Broken Arrow was made regarding the museum’s exhibit, “Missing: Little Sister, What Happened To you?” Collections Manager Nikki Carlstrom, on behalf of Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, collected the honorable mention award.

The exhibit, created to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women in North America, was held in conjunction with the 2022 Comanche Nation Fair’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Remembrance Walk, according to Candy Taylor, Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, director.

“The MMIW exhibit was challenging because it’s one that hits close to home,” she said. “Nearly two dozen Comanche women are among thousands of indigenous women in North America and Canada that either have been murdered or simply disappeared without a trace.”

Taylor said the goal was to bring the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women information to light while remaining respectful to the Comanche families still grieving for their murdered or missing loved ones.

The MMIW Southwest Oklahoma Chapter, under the leadership of Comanche tribal members Geneva Hadley, Natalie Wallace and Brenda Soliz, helped curate the exhibit.

“The local MMIW chapter was extremely supportive,” Taylor said. “They provided pertinent local information for our exhibit panels. They also loaned the museum MMIW items and memorabilia for display. The collaboration was a wonderful example of Comanche strong, stronger together.”

The OMA Awards, presented annually, recognize outstanding achievement by museums and individuals throughout the state during the past year. Award categories include exhibitions, promotional pieces, publication, website, newsletters, conservation projects and education programs.

With more than 500 members, the Oklahoma Museums Association supports Oklahoma museums in their efforts to educate, inform and entertain. Oklahoma Museum Association is headquartered in Oklahoma City.

To date, Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center is the recipient of 39 local, state, regional, and national awards since opening in 2007. It continues to be the most award-winning tribal museum in the State of Oklahoma.

This year’s Comanche Nation Fair exhibit is called “30 Years Strong.” The photography exhibit takes a look past 30 years of the fair, Taylor said. It opens from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at the museum, 801 NW Ferris.