The Comanche Written Language: A Lost Art

For centuries, the Comanche language has been an integral part of Native American culture and tradition. However, with the passage of time, this unique language is on the brink of extinction. The Comanche Nation College in Lawton, Oklahoma, has recently received a $215,000 grant from the Administration for Native Americans to document and revitalize the Comanche written language.

The project, led by Jeff Williams, chairman of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at Texas Tech University, aims to collect the remaining fragments of the language and create a method for teaching it to college students. According to Williams, only 20 to 25 people on the tribe's enrollment are fluent in the Comanche language, making it one of the most endangered languages in the country.

The demise of the Comanche written language can be attributed to the loss of reservations by the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache tribes in the Oklahoma Indian Territory at the turn of the 20th century. As a result, many young people did not learn the language from their elders, leading to its gradual decline.

Despite the challenges ahead, Williams is determined to preserve this cultural treasure. He plans to work with tribe members and researchers at Comanche Nation College to record what's left of the language and develop a teaching method that can be used in a university setting. This digital archive will not only serve as a repository for the language but also provide a valuable resource for future generations.

The project, titled Numu Tekwapu, is a significant step towards preserving the Comanche written language and ensuring its survival for years to come. With the support of the Administration for Native Americans and the Comanche Nation College, Williams is confident that this ambitious undertaking will not only document the language but also provide a way to teach it to students at the college.

In conclusion, the Comanche written language is an integral part of Native American culture and tradition. Efforts are underway to document and revitalize this endangered language, ensuring its survival for future generations. The Numu Tekwapu project is a testament to the importance of preserving our cultural heritage and promoting linguistic diversity.