For centuries, Comanches have captivated the imaginations of historians, writers, and filmmakers. Yet in many popular accounts, their story ends abruptly in 1875, with the so-called fall of the Comanche empire when Quanah Parker led his people onto the reservation in what is now southwestern Oklahoma. But the story didn’t end there, especially not on screen. Join us for an illuminating public lecture that delves into the layered history of Comanche representation in early Western cinema, focusing on the silent film era and beyond.

In this powerful presentation, Parker-descendant Dr. Dustin Tahmahkera examines how Comanches have represented themselves—and have been represented by others—on film and in media for more than a century. Telling a story rooted in Comanche family, extended kin, and their evolving relationships to cinema, Dr. Tahmahkera traces a lineage that stretches from Quanah’s co-starring role in a silent film to the work of contemporary Comanche actors, filmmakers, and critics. What emerges is a vibrant story of cinematic tradition, cultural continuity, and Indigenous agency.

This program complements the museum’s exhibition The Cinematic West: The Art That Made The Movies, which explores how artists like Frederic Remington and Charles Russell helped define Hollywood’s vision of the American West. By focusing on Comanche presence and agency in early film, this lecture offers an expanded lens through which to understand Indigenous and film history—one that highlights the vital contributions of Native performers and storytellers to the evolving narrative of the American West.

Speaker:

• Dr. Dustin Tahmahkera, Professor, Wick Cary Endowed Chair in Native American Cultural Studies, University of Oklahoma

Registration Required – Opens September 23

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation may be provided during this event upon advance request.

Ages: 18+

Contact: Director of Adult Programs at adulteducation@SidRichardsonMuseum.org or 817.332.6554 if you have any questions or would like to be added to the wait list when registration is full.