Sheppard AFB hosts Comanche nation for Native American Heritage Month

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
The moment before performers took the stage adorned with Native American regalia, a quiet anticipation filled the hallways of Sheppard Elementary School as they prepared to treat their audience to the nuances of their culture Nov. 13.

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating the month of November as "National American Indian Heritage Month." As a result, 23 years later, a Comanche tribe from Lawton, Okla., traveled to Sheppard in order to show a culture few get to experience.

"It's important for people to know we honor our creator, mother earth, the military and ourselves by the way we dance," said Teresa Lopez, Comanche nation prevention specialist. "I'm glad to be here, it's important students learn the different things about our tribe."

As the performers took the stage, a subtle silence swept across the auditorium. Suddenly, dancers burst onto stage in unison, in colorful feathered attire, dancing to the steady beat of a drum, their yelps echoing across the auditorium.

"It's important for all cultures to be proud," Lopez said. "We wanted to share our culture with Sheppard."

As the exhibition came to an end, there was a surprise for the crowd as the troupe hopped off stage and invited them to participate in their tribal dance. In a matter of seconds the entire assembly hall was a filled with a festive and much more participatory audience.

For Senior Airman Chantell Mosby, a 82nd Medical Group dental assistant, and a member of the Apache tribe, the show presented a chance for her to celebrate a pivotal part of her culture.

"It means a lot to keep traditions alive," Mosby said. "It helps keep people aware and educates them."

As the event itself highlighted the diversity that resides within the Air Force, it was also meant to bring to light the bigger importance of cooperation and morale readiness.

"You get a lot of perspectives; diversity makes us all better people," said Master Sgt. Billie Hartman, a 366th Training Squadron electrical systems specialist. "Many people don't get the chance to see this."