How the Tornado Came to Be: How the Tornado Came to Be: Local Constructions by Kiowas Local Constructions by Kiowas

and Meteorologists on the and Meteorologists on the

Southern Great PlainsSouthern Great Plains

Mark H. PalmerMark H. Palmer

Department of GeographyDepartment of Geography

University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma

Slapout, Ok 6/11/97 (Todd Lindley)

The Human Dimensions of The Human Dimensions of TornadoesTornadoes

ObservationsObservations LanguageLanguage ImagesImages

Movement and ObservationMovement and Observation

Both Kiowa and meteorological Both Kiowa and meteorological knowledge of tornadoes are highly knowledge of tornadoes are highly dependent upon movement. dependent upon movement. Movement is important in the Movement is important in the observation and subsequent observation and subsequent inscription of tornado images. inscription of tornado images.

Movement and ObservationMovement and Observation

The Kiowa Man-ka-ih story emerged The Kiowa Man-ka-ih story emerged from a migratory people who roamed from a migratory people who roamed the plains of what are now known as the plains of what are now known as the Texas Panhandle, northeast New the Texas Panhandle, northeast New Mexico, eastern Colorado, western Mexico, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, and western Oklahoma. Kansas, and western Oklahoma.

Their experiences and observations Their experiences and observations of tornadoes molded the creation of of tornadoes molded the creation of the story. the story.

Movement Movement and and

ObservationObservation Migration Migration

and why?and why? Core area Core area

and why?and why? Sun Dance Sun Dance

ClimatologyClimatology

Movement and ObservationMovement and Observation

In similar fashion scores of In similar fashion scores of meteorologists roamed these same meteorologists roamed these same places in search of the elusive places in search of the elusive tornado, a ground truthing exercise tornado, a ground truthing exercise that led to the development of that led to the development of universal scientific inscriptions. universal scientific inscriptions.

Movement, Observation, Ground Movement, Observation, Ground TruthingTruthing

LanguageLanguage

Kiowa – oral, some written, Kiowa – oral, some written, particular, and local; Kiowa language particular, and local; Kiowa language and ideas integrated into the work of and ideas integrated into the work of Kiowa scholars Kiowa scholars

Meteorology – mathematics, physics, Meteorology – mathematics, physics, local to universal, particular to local to universal, particular to generalizationsgeneralizations

Images: KiowaImages: Kiowa

Over time, various Kiowa people Over time, various Kiowa people including Silver Horn, N. Scott including Silver Horn, N. Scott Momaday, and Al Momaday created Momaday, and Al Momaday created inscriptions representing the story inscriptions representing the story which circulated through the greater which circulated through the greater American society.American society.

Images contain informationImages contain information

Kiowa Pictorial Calendar: Kiowa Pictorial Calendar: Summer and Winter of 1833 -35Summer and Winter of 1833 -35

Summer and Winter 1936Summer and Winter 1936

Man-ka-ihMan-ka-ih

Lightning comes from its mouth, Lightning comes from its mouth, and the tail, whipping and and the tail, whipping and

thrashing on the air, makes the thrashing on the air, makes the high, hot wind of the tornado. high, hot wind of the tornado.

But they speak to it, saying “Pass But they speak to it, saying “Pass over me.” They are not afraid of over me.” They are not afraid of

Man-ka-ih, for it understands Man-ka-ih, for it understands their language their language

(Momaday, 1969: 48).(Momaday, 1969: 48).

Images: MeteorologyImages: Meteorology

Supercell SchematicSupercell Schematic Doppler Radar: Reflectivity, VelocityDoppler Radar: Reflectivity, Velocity

SchematicSchematic

ImagesImages

Comparing SystemsComparing Systems

Understanding through Understanding through language and storieslanguage and stories

Understanding through the Understanding through the language of mathematics and language of mathematics and sciencescience

Kiowa is difficult to Kiowa is difficult to understand: rigor, system, understand: rigor, system, toil, localtoil, local

Meteorology is difficult to Meteorology is difficult to understand: rigor, toil, understand: rigor, toil, system, local to universalsystem, local to universal

Kiowa Meteorology

Comparing SystemsComparing Systems

Image: constructing, shaping Image: constructing, shaping the horse out of claythe horse out of clay

Image: constructing, shaping Image: constructing, shaping tornadoes out of scientific tornadoes out of scientific factsfacts

Tornadoes not understood by Tornadoes not understood by the Kiowas; learning through the Kiowas; learning through observationsobservations

Tornadoes not understood by Tornadoes not understood by scientists; learning through scientists; learning through observationobservation

Kiowa Meteorology

Comparing SystemsComparing Systems

Kiowas spoke to the wind Kiowas spoke to the wind spirit and all was calm spirit and all was calm (communication)(communication)

Scientists observed, created Scientists observed, created formulas, communicated formulas, communicated results and all was calm results and all was calm communicationcommunication

The image of Man-ka-ih a The image of Man-ka-ih a great wild horse roams the great wild horse roams the skies, it is violent, Kiowas skies, it is violent, Kiowas speak to it, asking it to pass speak to it, asking it to pass over as they enter storm over as they enter storm shelters that take on the shelters that take on the shape of the Earth (Momaday, shape of the Earth (Momaday, 1969)1969)

Doppler radar images and Doppler radar images and schematics of supercells for schematics of supercells for the southern Great Plains the southern Great Plains emerge from the observations emerge from the observations as people are asked to enter as people are asked to enter storm shelters that take on storm shelters that take on the shape of the Earththe shape of the Earth

Kiowa Meteorology

Comparing SystemsComparing Systems

Man-ka-ih still alive and well Man-ka-ih still alive and well among a small network of among a small network of Kiowas and other members of Kiowas and other members of plains Indian tribes; pictorials; plains Indian tribes; pictorials; paintings and book textspaintings and book texts

(Local and Particular)(Local and Particular)

Images alive and well through Images alive and well through a large network of scientists, a large network of scientists, publications, TV broadcasters, publications, TV broadcasters, funding agencies, public funding agencies, public policies, and the general policies, and the general public that have been enrolled public that have been enrolled in the network (local to in the network (local to universal)universal)

Kiowa Meteorology

Thank You!Thank You!