USE PAUSE BUTTON FREELY. Comanche Dress. Gourd Dance Items 1870 - 1920. This slideshow highlights items used in today's Gourd Dance. Most parts of the regalia were used by the Comanche around the turn of the century, decades before the "revival" of the Gourd Dance. There is nothing here that says anything about the origin of the gourd dance as pertains to other tribes; only that the Comanche wore items (long ago) used by today's gourd dancers. How others obtained the Gourd Dance, and when, does not concern the Comanche. The Comanche have documentary evidence of how they obtained the Gourd Dance and this has nothing to do with other tribes, other than the Cheyenne in 1838. That evidence of the Comanche's receiving the Gourd dance does not venture into the realm of mythology but relies on written history. For instance, in 1883 a book was written in French by a Dutchman who traveled through Comanche country and observed them doing the Gourd Dance. He did not say, nor is it claimed, that this was the origin of the Gourd Dance; only that the Comanche were Gourd Dancing in 1883. This is factual information and everyone can read it and understand that it was his observations, written down, and not this Channel's opinion. The pictures above speak for themselves, everyone can see them and form their opinion as to whether or not today's gourd dance items of regalia were worn or not worn by Comanches around the turn of the century, i.e. late 1800's, early 1900's. This slideshow is not meant to claim Comanches originated the gourd dance. I apologize to today's descendants of other tribe's leaders who were gourd dance leaders in the past, if it can be read that way. We all acknowledge that most of today's gourd dance songs are now composed and sung in Kiowa. We respect this as we have many brothers in our powwow family who are Comanche, Kiowa, and mixed. Long ago, before he died, Joe Attocknie, the son of Albert Attocknie, and Nig Mihecoby, both Comanche leaders born around the turn of the century told how the Comanche had "put the Gourd Dance away" long ago for the missionaries. All the Comanche songs, procedures, and styles were put away, and no one was to use them again. It is good that the Kiowa hung on to their knowledge of their songs and dances. Since the Kiowa came down around from the north around 1800-1804 or so to live in Comanche Country, the Comanche and Kiowa have been allies, their cultures intermixed, their customs intermixed. We still respect that alliance.
