Comanche Nation Outreaches Provide School Supplies, Information

From Thursday, August 14, through Saturday, August 16, Comanche Nation held several outreach events in Anadarko, Oklahoma City and Dallas centered around the Back-to-School Bash.

Coordinator and Prescription Assistance Director Kevin Wahkinney said it’s important to have events to reach specific communities.

“To just let them know that we're thinking about them. That we're trying to be a part of what they're doing, and we hear them, that they're a voice, that they're not lost just because they're in Anadarko or Oklahoma City or even Albuquerque, that we're hearing them,” he said. “And we want to let them know that we're going to be there and provide these services. All these programs that are going out there are able to provide services across the country. Within my own programs, I have clients in every state, and I just want to make sure that they understand that whatever we service here locally, we're servicing the same thing to them. And I just want them to feel like they're included in everything we're doing.”

Wahkinney said many people like to see a familiar face, especially in out-of-state events. 

“Especially like when we get out to Albuquerque, they'll come in, and there'll be a group of people that'll come in that live out there, and they'll spend the whole day with us because it's being able to see a familiar face,” he said. “Even when we go down to Dallas, they're able to see a familiar face from home. Even if we don't know them right off, we can still sit down at the same table, break bread with them, and just visit, and I think that they really take a lot from that.”

Wahkinney said it feels good to bring a piece of home to those away from home.

He said planning for the outreaches begins in January, and Wahkinney hopes to get into the California area.

“We're talking about it now, but it may not even be for another year or two, but it just takes a lot to put into that, knowing the location, because it's pretty detailed, like even with Kansas,” he said. “We'll be going to Kansas in the spring of next year, but it's getting those demographics. We have to know where the biggest Comanche community is, whether it's Lawrence or Wichita, and just kind of defining which one has the most...and putting that outreach right there. And then reaching out to the community there, finding a location, trying to figure out where we could set up, hotels, trying to get everybody on the same page, to where we're in the same building, the same facility and being able to accommodate them. Whether it's feeding or snacks or just lodging and then going out there ahead of time and making sure that everything's set up, so when these programs get through, they don't have to worry about it.”

Wahkinney said it feels great to be able to help so many tribal members. 

Youth Services Volunteer Rashied Alattar said he enjoyed handing out school supplies to kids.

“It's nice to meet with new people, see people that you haven't seen before,” he said. “It's nice to do that.”

Alattar has been attending the Back-to-School Bash at Watchetaker Hall since he was younger, but this was his first time in Dallas.

 “Watchetaker Hall is pretty big,” he said. “The whole building's pretty big, so it gets really busy really fast. This one seems more chill, but I mean, it's still fun to see the people that come.”

Oklahoma City Outreach Director Mary Austin said hosting the Back-to-School Bash offers tribal members the opportunity to also receive services without traveling a long distance.

She said there are over 2,200 enrolled tribal members in the Oklahoma City metro.

“I love being up here, being pretty much centralized...in the metro area, because we do offer services...to non-locals,” Austin said. “It may not be as many as the Nation...provides, but we try to reach the most important…aspects of the programs and things like that. And I think it's important.”

The highlight of her day was helping the youth.

“Seeing all the kids coming in and picking out their backpacks and...receiving the school supplies,” Austin said. “And then, of course, the Snowie, the snow cones that are provided to them also. So, just seeing the families coming in and receiving this assistance.”

Several services are provided to non-locals, including social services, higher education needs and workforce opportunities.

The Albuquerque Outreach will be from August 22 through 23.

More information can be found on the Comanche Nation website.