Yamparika Comanche

Mural, Acrylic, 18’ x 36’, Medicine Lodge, Kansas

In 1867, a treaty was signed at Medicine Lodge Creek, Kansas between the United States and representatives of five Native nations, including leaders from one Comanche division (Yamparika or ‘Root Eaters’). The Comanche people were comprised of numerous divisions, most of which were not present or willing to sign a treaty. When I was approached by the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Council to create this mural, I agreed as long as they knew that I was going to depict a Yamparika Comanche prior to the reservation period. This mural is a visual land acknowledgment to the Yamparika Comanche people.

Curator’s Note: All of Eric’s murals are visual land acknowledgments—an expression of gratitude, appreciation, and recognition of the homeland of the original people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. This acknowledgement encourages people to think about what it means to occupy space on indigenous lands.