Indigenous Heritage Month at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

For thousands of years the Karankawa controlled the Texas coast and coastal plain, until they were driven from the region by Anglo-Texans in the mid-19th century. Though long believed to be extinct, over the past decade they have re-emerged, revitalized their culture, and resumed the struggle to protect their ancestral lands and waters. This panel looks at the revitalization of the Karankawa and its implications for the environment, for the return of ancestral bones removed from the Cayo del Oso burial ground, and for the regeneration of Indigenous community and culture in the Coastal Bend. Karankawa activist Love Sanchez, historian Tim Seiter, and TAMUCC professor Peter Moore are the featured speakers. For more information, contact Dr. Peter Moore, TAMU-CC Professor at Peter.Moore@tamucc.edu.

 

This powerful documentary by international filmmaker Nikola Knez captures the dignity and richness of Indigenous culture through the eyes of a courageous group of individuals seeking to memorialize the lives of their ancestors, whose bones were taken from a burial ground adjacent to the campus of TAMU-CC. Rich visual images and stirring music combine with the beauty and wisdom shared in interviews of old and young people to create an uplifting and inspiring message of hope drawn from their noble and often tragic history. The film was awarded two Gold Remis at WorldFest Houston International Film Festival in 2019 for documentary film production and for screenplay. Dr. Dorothy McClellan, who wrote the screenplay for the film, will be in attendance to answer questions, as will local Indigenous artist and spiritual leader Larry Running Turtle Salazar and archeologist Dr. Fred McGhee. For more information, contact Dr. Peter Moore, TAMU-CC Professor at Peter.Moore@tamucc.edu.

 

Students from Dr. Moore’s and Dr. Pattison’s classes will join members of Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend for a night of cultural activities at the Art Museum of South Texas. The event will feature Indigenous dancers, musicians, and vendors, as well as vendors and cultural producers from our local communities. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Dale Pattison, TAMU-CC Professor at Dale.Pattison@tamucc.edu.

 

An intertribal event by the Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend and hosted at the Island University by Islander Cultural Alliance. This gathering of different indigenous communities will share culture through traditional dancing, drumming, food, and crafts. Hands-on classes and environmental talks relating to Corpus Christi Bay will be available. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Islander Cultural Alliance at ICA@tamucc.edu or Indigenous People of the Coastal Bend at indigenouspeoplecoastalbend@gmail.com.