Alumni News: Forrest Tahdooahnippah '10 Elected Chairman of the Comanche Nation
Forest Tahdooahnippah '10 was elected chairman of the Comanche Nation earlier this year. The Comanche Nation is based near Lawton, Oklahoma.
Tahdooahnippah succeeds former chair Mark Woommavovah. Woommavovah did not run for reelection after being censured by the Comanche Nation Business Committee for endorsing the construction of the controversial Westwin Elements Cobalt Refinery, which has drawn concerns from tribal citizens about the environmental impact of rare-metal mining.
Tahdooahnippah is an assistant professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He says reforming the Comanche Nation’s business committee and constitution are among the issues he hopes to tackle during his term.
“Another thing that I am really hoping is [to do more] to protect our environment,” Tahdooahnippah said. “There have been a few different environmental threats. There is the cobalt-nickel refinery that is under construction and the City of Lawton has been discharging municipal waste into one of the local creeks.”
Tahdooahnippah voiced support for improving tribal communication and access to information on the nation’s website — such as details about election proposals — and he expressed a need to diversify the Comanche Nation’s economy.
“I’m [also] hoping to reform our sources of revenue,” Tahdooahnippah added. “In addition to gaming, having more federal funding, trying to take advantage of more federal opportunities, and trying to do some more private fundraising for our cultural activities, [as well as] diversifying our businesses beyond gaming.”
Forest Tahdooahnippah