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DOC TATE NEVAQUAYA
Commanche
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD
Funeral services for Doc Tate Nevaquaya, 63, of Apache, were conducted
Thursday, March 7, 1996, at 1:00 p.m. at the Ft. Sill Indian School Gymnasium,
Lawton, with the Rev. Ronnie Simmons, officiating. A prayer service was held at
7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the United Methodist Church of Apache with the
Rev. Andy Kamphuis and the Rev. George Montanan, officiating.
Nevaquaya died Tuesday, March 5, 1996, at a Lawton hospital, after
suffering a massive heart attack Monday. A full-blooded Comanche, Doc was born
July 3, 1932 in Apache, Oklahoma. His parents died eight months apart when he
was 13 and he spent his teenage years living with his grandparents, listening to
the stories of the tribal elders.
His oldest brother, who was working, assumed the role of
a motivating parent. He brought home crayons and a tablet for Doc and encouraged
him to draw the nearby Wichita Mountains — something his teachers didn’t approve
of. Ironically, at Fort Sill Indian School where Doc was a student, government
policies forbidding portrayals of Indian culture was “pagan” had been reversed.
Traditional Indian art was then a part of the curriculum, and students were
discouraged from pursuing other areas like landscape painting. So Doc avoided
taking art classes in school. He wanted to be free from that, to paint what he
felt within. Whenever he got a chance, he would sketch the rugged Slick Hills by
the farm, complete with rocks and cedars and horses which, for him, were a part
of the landscape. At that same time, Doc went out of his way to view all the
traditional art that he could, and contributed his own artwork to posters and
the school yearbook.
After graduating from high school, he began sketching at home. Doc
exhibited and sold his first work at Indian City in Anadarko.
During the 1950s he began to concentrate on painting. After that he became
an accomplished painter, winning numerous awards for his work. Art critic Ralph
Oliver said his works were “characterized by amazing technical control,
exquisite color and a mastery of detail:’
It was also during the 1950s that Doe first became interested in Indian
flutes. In the 1960s he began researching the Indian flute in earnest. Because
none of the Indian music is written, much of it is lost. Doc researched the
flute construction and playing techniques at the Library of Congress and
Smithsonian Institution collections and had copies of recordings made in the
late 1800s by elders of various tribes. He often listened to them while he
painted and based his music on the recordings.
Doc Tate Nevaquaya brought national honor to the state of Oklahoma in 1986,
by becoming the first Oklahoman to win the National Heritage Fellowship Award.
Given by the National Endowment for the Arts, the award honored Doc as a
“flutist and master of traditional arts.” He was equally well-known for his
paintings.
The following are credits or accomplishments:
1995— Was named National Living Treasure, and received award by Gov. Keating;
Honorary Cultural Director of the American Indian Cultural Society, Inc.,
Norman; served on the Board of Directors for the Fine Ants Department at the
University of Oklahoma, Norman.
1994 — Elected to the College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors, University of
Oklahoma, Norman; The Doe Tate Nevaquaya Scholarship Fund in the College of Fine
Arts was established by American Indian Cultural Society, Inc. through the
University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc. to be available to deserving American
Indian students; selected “1994 Artist of the West” by The 18th Annual National
Western Art Exhibition and Sale, San Dimas, California.
1993 — Named “The Honored One” and Parade Marshall for the Red Earth Festival,
OKC.
1992 — Ambassador and Parade Marshall for 61st Annual American Indian
Exposition, Anadarko; Juried, The Trail of Tears an All Indian Art Competition,
Tahlequah; Juried, The Seminole Nation Art Competition, Orlando, Florida; “700
Club”, spoke on behalf of American Indian people.
1991 — Commissioned by the Oklahoma State Arts Council to compose the song
“Flight of the Spirit” in honor of the five Native American Ballerinas at the
dedication ceremony, Historic Mural Great Rotunda, Oklahoma State Capitol, OKC;
Board of Director and founding member of the American Indian Cultural Society,
Inc., Norman; Performed at Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada.
1990— Doe was named “A Living Legend” along with six other Indian Artists;
performed at Carnegie Hall, New York City, N.Y.
1989 — Doe opened the archery competition of the U.S. Olympic Festival in
Norman, with a flute song.
1988— Performed at United Nations Mission, New York City.
1987 — Doc’s art was listed as Best Investments for 1987.
1986 — The Comanche Tribe of 3klahoma proclaimed the second Friday in October as
“Doe Tate Nevaquaya” Day; received the National Endowment Heritage Award for his
contribution to the Native American Art forms; received special recognition from
Oklahoma State Art Council; Gov. George Nigh; Senator David Boren and a letter
from President Ronald Reagan; Master’s Artist Award, Five Civilized Tribes of
Oklahoma; Grand Award Winner, Trail of Tears All Indian Art Competition in
Tahlequah.
1982— Performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for Night of the First
Americans;, with Loretta Lynn, Wayne Newton and Sammy Davis Jr; Listed in the
Renowned Artist in the U.S.; Listed in Who’s Who Among American Indians.
1979— Production of an Album of Flute Music, Folklore Music Co., New York City.
1975 — Selected as a famous Oklahoman and name included in the honor list
displayed in the Fidelity Bank, OKC; selected by Governor Boren as Artist of the
Month, State of Oklahoma; selected by Governor Boren to direct an All Indian Art
Show to celebrate Governor’s inauguration; performed with Freddy Fender, Mel
Tillis and Roy Clark at the Roy Clark Ranch, Tulsa; Diamond Jubilee Heritage
Week Outstanding Citizen, Apache Chamber of Commerce; recipient of the key to
the city of Weatherford, along with Astronaut Allen Shepard; artist of a book
cover “Komantica” by Harold Keith; lectured in Indian Boarding Schools and
Public Schools of Oklahoma.
1970— “On the Road with Charles Kuralt” interviewed for TV Documentary; he was
included in a program on British Television and at Expo ‘70 in Japan.
1968-69-70 — Winner of the Grand Award for three consecutive years at the
American Indian Exposition, Anadarko.
Nevaquaya’s works are included in the personal collections of Queen Elizabeth II
of England and the late actor Vincent Price.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, of the home; five sons, Lean of Ft.
Worth, Edmond, Timothy, Joseph and Calvert, all of Apache; four daughters,
Jereaux Nevaquaya of Apache, Amanda Sue Bordeaux of Rosebud, S.D., ioycetta
Harris of Stroud, and Sonya Reyes of Apache; 17 grandchildren; one
great-grandchild; one brother, Bernard Tate Nevaquaya of Indiahoma and one
sister, Greta Logan of Shawnee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lean
and Victoria Nevaquaya and two brothers, Malcolm Nevaquaya and Edward Parker.
Burial was in Cache Creek Indian Cemetery under the direction of Crews Funeral
Home.
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