Pow-Wow Oklahoma! Interviews

Pow-Wow Oklahoma! Interviews Comanche Nation Chairman and popular Powwow Master of Ceremonies, Wallace Coffey.

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It was my honor and privilege to interview Wallace Coffey. I know his time is valuable and I appreciate him granting me the time to ask him some questions. Wallace takes many interviews but most of the time he is having to answer tough questions often from angry people so I decided to take a different approach and ask him some questions that he probably hasn’t discussed openly before. Make sure you get some popcorn and a beverage ready because this was his chance to open up and he did just that. Please enjoy!

MW: Pow-Wow Oklahoma Site Admin, Mycol Wahnee

WC: Wallace Coffey

MW: Uraako Wallace nanarumuinu (Thank you very much Wallace let’s tell stories).

WC: Haa Ura! (Yes Thanks)

MW: Congratulations Wallace, you’re the very first person in a series of interviews I intend to publish on my new website: Pow-Wow Oklahoma! The purpose of these interviews is to gain some insight into the lives of Oklahoma’s fine Powwow people doing what they do best, living the Powwow lifestyle. Inquiring minds do want to know.

WC: Sounds good bud, lets do it!

MW: Today I would like to ask you some questions about what it means to be the Chairman of the Comanche Nation as well as what drives you to accept the many emcee requests at powwows large and small throughout Oklahoma, the United States, and Canada.

MW: Let’s begin with the position of the Chairman of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. Take us through a typical day as the Chairman of the Comanche people.

WC: You have to understand that there are certain responsibilities that I have to accept whether I want too or not. In 1978; I graduated from Harvard University and I went to school primarily to take care of my family economically, socially, ect. But when I came home after graduation my grandpa called for me at the Comanche Homecoming Powwow and so whenever I went over to dance with him he took a red and blue broadcloth off his shoulders and threw it on the ground and he said when that song is over, you pick that up. I picked it up but I didn’t realize there would be a lot of responsibilities that would go along with it. Since that time I’ve changed my whole focus on trying to create a betterment for myself, my wife, and my children. Since that time I have gone into what some would call “the trenches” working for Indian people. Many times there are some that go to these Ivy League Colleges or any University for their own personal income needs. They don’t always look at how they are going to address the needs of the community. So this was in 1978 and over the years I had many things I was involved in and always had leadership positions. My first job was with the Education Department with the Comanche tribe and later I became the Tribal Administrator for the Otoe-Missouri Tribe. Then I got a job with Nebraska Educational Television in Lincoln Nebraska. I then became the Dean of Students for the Nebraska Indian Community College. Then I became the Director of the Nebraska Indian Commission. Then I became the Executive Director of the Urban Indian Center in Denver Colorado and that was where I decided I needed to be home. So after watching Dances with Wolves one night, I was in the back yard praying and I said I was going to come home but I wanted it to be as Chairman because I applied for jobs but was never given any consideration. So a star flew across the sky and I said that was what I’m going to do. So I campaigned for Chairman and won, then we moved home in 1991. I realized that our people were really suffering as far a pride and self-esteem goes. So in 1992, the year of the Columbus Quincentenary, we created the Comanche Nation Fair. At that time there was a lack of pride amongst our people so I looked at our people and I really felt sad for them because they didn’t know who they were and they were lost. The Comanche Fair brought out the best in them and the old folks really took to it because they got a chance to share their wisdom. They got a chance to share their stories and the kids really listened. I think this was my biggest contribution as Chairman of the Comanche tribe because it brought people together and enhanced their self-esteem and feeling of accomplishment and that being Comanche really means something. We just celebrated our 17th year and as we go into our 18th year it's just getting bigger and bigger and now other tribes come to our celebration and powwow and take part in our parade and events and they have said this is one of the best events they have enjoyed. So when you see the outcomes of what you attempt to do like that, that’s by far the greatest contribution for me.

When I picked up that red and blue blanket, I didn’t realize there would be many responsibilities that would go along with it. This doesn’t mean I’m done, I have no idea what my future will bring. My current term will end in June of this year (2009) maybe May if we don’t have a runoff. After that; I have no idea what I’m going to do because it’s not up to me, its up to God, he’ll make a way for me and my family. I’ve never had to apply for a job because people have always put me in there or said something like “let’s go for this”. I’ve always had a job and I’ve always been able to make a contribution to the future of our Indian people.

MW: Wallace, take us through a typical day as the Chairman of the Comanche People.

WC: You never know, early in the morning I get calls from the people and we’ll visit and most of the time they are looking for comfort or answers to help solve a dilemma. They aren’t looking for handouts or assistance, they just want communication so in the morning when my thoughts are clear I’ll call those people and we’ll sit and visit and I’ll have my coffee and well just visit. This morning I had a call from the family of a loved one that was sick and they didn’t plan on their mother living very long so they wanted to know how to go about making funeral arrangements. After that, I got a call from a young person saying “hey uncle, I’m looking for a job, can you help me out” So those types of questions are what I get early in the morning.

MW: So would you say that you tend to deal with a lot of emotional support from people early in the morning or all throughout the day?

WC: Yes, all throughout the day and when the day is done, I’m totally stressed out because I hear the secrets that they won’t ever tell anybody else. Sometimes when I get home my wife asks me “Well how did your day go?” I don’t know what to tell her because most of it is confidential you know?

MW: Right, I understand.

WC: But on any given day it could be sitting down talking to Tribal members, it could be receiving phone calls from the Major General Vangjel with regard to an activity on the military base. I just wrote a letter to Congresswoman Kay Granger thanking her for supporting this Codetalker’s Recognition Act and asking her to be our keynote speaker in February. So I’m doing these things, I’m planning ahead and listening to our Tribal membership on a daily basis. Any Tribal Leader has the responsibility of listening to the concerns our membership has and often times there are problems that are overwhelming even for me. Some times I’m just not able to resolve them all. Sometimes it involves incarceration. Sometimes it involves addictive habits. How do you get someone to realize that they need to go seek treatment? I’ve had to put some of our people in treatment, I’ve had to drive them to Wichita Falls or Oklahoma City for a variety of needs. Most people don’t know it, but that’s my job and you try to address them the best that you can.

MW: So there is no priority list? You just take care of the concern that is on your plate at that time?

WC: I always leave my door open because there are always people that want to pop in for various reasons or they just want to say hello to me. Over the years, I think that I’ve established a very good friend base and I’ve learned that it’s best not to burn your bridges when it comes to friendships. Although I have had to burn some bridges when I feel that my friendship has been abused, I pull it back because I’m not going to let that one thing that I own get taken advantage of, and that’s my friendship. In our language “haitsi” (Male Friend) is a powerful word and if we call someone “haitsi”, we better treat them as good as we treat our own brothers and sometimes even better. You give them a position of respect and you welcome them into your home. You don’t get involved into their day to day lives and you don’t let them get involved in your day to day life. All you do is say “Hello my friend, how are you getting along” That’s the essence of extending your friendship and you know many times in the Indian world you make a way for them. You feed them and you make sure they take part in dance, but you don’t get involved in loaning money or in solving their particular problems. It’s important to become their friend so they can share those thoughts. So any person in my capacity probably has limited friends (Wallace Laughs).

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