Comanche Woman, Acrylic on Canvas by Eric Tippeconnic

A Comanche woman aims her rifle at an unseen enemy, her riding skill evident in her stance. She trusts in her horse completely, as her attention is focused solely on her target.

Comanche girls were introduced to horses at an extremely young age, and while their roles were different than men, they were also skilled riders. All Comanche people spent a significant portion of their lives on the back of a horse. Comanche women fought with the same ferocity displayed by their male counterparts in the martial defense of their homes and Comanchería. The Comanche began acquiring rifles through trade with the French as early as the 1750s. Like with the horse, the Comanche absorbed the technology into their culture, becoming expert marksmen and markswomen. They also frequently decorated their rifles by adding brass tacks to their stocks.

Eric Tippeconnic is a historian and visual artist with a special emphasis on painting. He is an original American on his father's side and a first generation American on his mother's side.