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 f.