Rock House

The title of this piece is based on Tippeconnic family oral history. Eric’s description:
“Shortly after the Red River War (1874 – 1875), all Comanches lived on a reservation in Southwest Oklahoma near Fort Sill. Once the reservation era began, most traditional methods by which Comanches gained social status and prestige were no longer possible. In order to leave the reservation, Comanches had to receive permission from the Indian agent, making it difficult to go south into Texas or Mexico. One evening one young Comanche man enlisted the help of some other Comanches to relieve the US Army of its horse herd at Fort Sill. They succeeded and took the horses south of the reservation into Texas where they sold the horses. In order for these young men to gain recognition for this daring act and therefore enhance their standing amongst other Comanches, they had to return to Fort Sill and the Comanche reservation and own up to their acts. At least one of these individuals was thrown into jail at the Fort Sill Guardhouse. Apparently, this feat was worthy enough for the Comanche to bestow a new name upon the young man who let this raid. He was named Tupi-Kuni, or Rock House, after a literal description of the guardhouse at Fort Sill. When Tupi-Kuni’s name was transcribed into English, it was simply sounded out and became Tippeconnic — my great-grandfather.”