Comanche Princess legacy explored with new exhibit

With this week’s return of the 31st Annual Comanche Nation Fair, honoring the tribe’s princess will be on full display with a new exhibit at the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center.

With history often reflecting on the men’s roles in tribal society, this exhibit offers opportunity to shine a light on the women who represented the Lords of the Plains in a new light.

The exhibit, “Honoring Comanche Royalty,” will open with a program at 10 a.m. Tuesday from the back patio of the museum, 701 NW Ferris. Admission is free, the public is invited and continental breakfast items will be served. Free exhibit t-shirts will be available, while supplies last.

The Comanche National Museum will be open for special hours during the fair. Special hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 30.

Comanche Princess Tradition

Museum Director Candy Taylor spoke of how, for nearly a century, the Comanche Nation has upheld a tradition of choosing a young woman to represent as a tribal princess. This exhibit pays tribute to these outstanding women, she said.

Comanche Princesses come from distinguished, well-known families, Taylor said. Many descend from historical chiefs. In the early years, princesses were handpicked. In modern times, an election is held each spring for the tribal members to decide which young lady would best represent the tribe as a princess for the following year.

Taylor said the role of a princess is important.

“These women are held in high regard,” she said. “They’re our ambassadors, participating in powwows, community services, and following our cultural ways. They are leaders by example.”

Princess Sorority Makes Exhibit Possible

This equally important exhibit would not have been possible without the assistance of the Comanche Nation Princess Sorority. All of the items and photographs on display are on loan from the private collections of nearly two dozen princesses, including the oldest living Comanche Princess, Marion Nauni Simmons, who reigned in 1955, she said.

Jolene Schonchin is the current president of the Princess Sorority. The reigning princess in 1988, her mother, Arlene Wockmetooah Jimenez was the Comanche Princess in 1945, and she was the founding President of the Comanche Princess Sorority, founded in 1996 by former Comanche Princess Director Gaylon Motah., she said. It’s a sorority with a purpose.

“The purpose of the Comanche Nation Princess Sorority is to honor the ladies who were the Goodwill Ambassadors and tribal diplomats during their reigning year and to be a source of support for the current reigning Comanche Princess,” she said. “The ladies are a library of cultural knowledge and have experience representing the Comanche Nation that can help guide the current princess if needed.“

To Be A Comanche Princess

To be a Comanche Nation Princess is to hold the highest cultural title during their reign and they become a part of Comanche History, Schonchin said. Her daughter, Arlene is following the family tradition: she is the current Junior Princess representing the Comanche Nation.

“To wear the Comanche Nation Crown as a Junior or Senior Princess is the highest honor a Comanche girl can achieve,” she said. “She represents the Comanche people in all she does, with every smile she shares and with every hand she shakes. She reflects the beauty of our culture and is the goodwill ambassador for our tribe.”

Schonchin said the personal items she loaned for the exhibit are a “treasure” to her.

“In the exhibit, I contributed my shawl, banner crown, and hair ties that I wore when I was the Comanche Princess,” she said. “They recall a time when I represented my tribal people, which I am so proud of. My shawl and banners have the older Comanche logo on them, and I am proud of that as well.”

A History of Princesses

The first recorded Comanche Princess is Rachel Martinez, who was the Comanche Princess in 1926. She was crowned at the Craterville Park Indian Fair which was held at Craterville Park north of Cache. She served her Comanche people from 1926 to 1929.

Schonchin said there are many other family legacies within the sorority. Marion Simmons (1955) and her daughter, Jan Yeahquo Stumblingbear (1979) both represented the tribe. Sisters Mary (1977) and Linda Chasenah (1980) both served as Comanche Princesses, as well as sisters Tanya Gray (1990) and Linda Blackstar (1991). There are also sisters Shanna Tahhahwah (1996) and Ellen Tahhahwah (1999).

Others such as the Wockmetooah, Attocknie and Sovo families also have many family members who were Comanche Princesses, she said.

There are more legacies carried from Comanche Nation Princesses, according to Schonchin. Some of the Sorority members went on to carry other prestigious titles. Janet Saupitty became Miss Indian World in 1990. Shelby Mata (2017) and Kimberly DeJesus became Miss Indian OU. Mata was also Miss Native American USA in 2021-2022.

Karel Ann Coffey was the Junior Miss Indian Oklahoma in 1992, and Angelina Steinmeyer was the Comanche Nation Junior Princess 2020-2022 and was also the Junior Miss Indian Oklahoma in 2018.

Every member of our Princess Sorority is very proud to have represented the Comanche Nation and holds that as one of her greatest achievements, Schonchin.

“There is a saying: ‘Once a princess, always a princess,’ and that holds true within our sorority,” she said. “They will forever be the Comanche Princess for the year they reigned. This tradition will continue with future generations of young ladies within our tribe.”