The 2022 Sacred Springs Powwow is scheduled for October 1 and 2 and will be live and in person. The head staff this year will be Master of Ceremonies Tim Tall Chief (Osage), Arena Director Bill Takes Horse (Crow), Head Judge Gwen Takes Horse (Choctaw), Head Male Dancer Cecil Gray (Cheyenne/Kiowa), Head Lady Dancer Nicole Pavatea (Hopi Navajo), Head Gourd Dancer Larry Liles (Comanche), Color Guard is the Disabled American Veterans Seguin, Texas. Back by popular demand are the two drum groups from 2019: the host southern drum is Ottertrail and the northern drum is Young Buffalo Horse.

 

The Presentations Program is calling for Indigenous performers and speakers to apply for placement on the prestigious ICI Presenters Roster. The demand for Indigenous performers and speakers is growing rapidly. Almost weekly, the Institute receives requests from cities, universities, schools and community groups for Indigenous presentations. So far the Performers Roster includes: Dr. Aaron Pyle, flute player; Adrian Villegas, comedian; Cuicani In Xochitl, Aztec danza; Jose Dominguez, storyteller; Grupo Pakal, Mayan dance; Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohtli, Aztec danza; Indigenous ACE, North American Indigenous culture; NDN Soul, Indigenous Rock & Blues. Speakers include: Dr. Mario Garza, original Texas Indians; Carlos Aceves, M.Ed., Indigenous pedagogy; Emily Aguilar, Indigenized practices and methods; Marika Alvarado, plant medicine; Ángela Vela, youth, health and food topics;   To apply for the Roster, contact: LaRay@indigenouscultures.org

 

ICI successfully launched the Xinachtli Teachers Training program. This training, which provides 10 hours of continuing professional education credit, is aimed at public school teachers who want to bring culturally relevant pedagogy into their classrooms. It serves a vital community need by implementing pedagogy that addresses the culture of our Indigenous-Hispanic youth. This training was led by the primary developer of the Xinachtli curriculum, Carlos Aceves, and participant evaluations cited exemplary results in achieving training objectives, and the relevance of the content to Texas educators. We filled our participant capacity within one week of minimal promotion, with educators drawn from the local community. This demonstrates that there is great interest and need for this type of programming. Now that the curriculum has been developed, we hope to expand the program model to an online platform for easier access by all Texas teachers. For information visit: indigenouscultures.org/Xinachtli

 Coahuiltecan Language Program

The experts who are developing the Coahuiltecan language lessons have been very productive during the past six months. This project, funded by Humanities Texas is developing the language so that the Institute can offer workshops at the Sacred Springs Powwow, and lessons online. For the future the Institute will offer periodic in-person workshops and classes, and continue developing the language by expanding the knowledge base. The workshops will be held on October 1^st and 2^nd at the Sacred Springs Powwow. Online classes will begin in November 2022. Jessica Sanchez, a U.T. doctoral student is leading the project with credentialed linguistics and curriculum specialists consulting on this project.

 

The Institute plans to establish an Indigenous Cultures Center that will preserve the surrounding ten acres and water access to the San Marcos River.  As of August 14, the Hays County Commissioners Court has yet to announce their Parks and Open Spaces bond funding decisions. ICI has requested $10M to establish the Center. At the end of 2021 the Commission received the scoring results from the POS Advisory Commission, where the Indigenous Cultures Center proposal scored in the top tier (recommended for funding). No reason has been given for this nine-month delay in the funding decision. To support the Center, you may contact the Commissioners Court and inquire why they have not awarded ICI the $10 million required to establish a space for our Indigenous community in Hays County. Their email address is countywideoperations@co.hays.tx.us

 

The Texas Hill Country Alliance has donated sufficient funds to pay for eleven gravestones for our ancestors that have been reburied at our  Sacred Springs Reburial Grounds.  With funds from the Environmental Defense Fund, the Institute will purchase a memorial plaque that identifies the reburial grounds and provides the history of our Indigenous people in this area. We are very grateful for the support of Sunny Markham, for creating these special gravestones made from natural rocks from the area surrounding our ancestors’ burial homeland.

 

These wonderful programs are made possible through generous donations from people who support Indigenous communities.  We are working to unite human-kind in seeking ancestral knowledge for the sake of our continued survival. Human rights and justice are critical issues for Indigenous people, and it is imperative for all people, that we restore balance to Mother Earth. CLICK HERE to donate.