Blessing starts off celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

WHAT: First Indigenous Peoples’ Day

WHEN: Oct. 8, 8 a.m. - Blessing and breakfast at Sacred Springs & 5 p.m. - Blessing at Reburial Grounds

WHO: Indigenous Cultures Institute, 512-393-3310 or IndigenousCultures.org

Two significant Native American blessings will take place in San Marcos on October 8th, commemorating the first Indigenous Peoples’ Day declared for San Marcos and celebrating the rich and vibrant indigenous presence in this city over that past 13,000 years. The first blessing and a breakfast following, will take place at 8 a.m. on the shores of the Sacred Springs at Spring Lake located at the Meadows Center, 201 San Marcos Springs Drive; and the second will include an “Ancestors Sacred Walk” and will be at 5 p.m. at the Reburial Grounds at Spring Lake Preserve Park at 685 Lime Kiln Road. 

Both events are free and open to the public.

On Sept. 8, the San Marcos City Council voted unanimously to establish Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an official city celebration on the second Monday of October, joining a nationwide effort to address the national holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus on that date.

“It happened so quickly and unexpectedly that we had a very short time to plan our first celebration,” says Maria Rocha, executive director of Indigenous Cultures Institute, the nonprofit that has spearheaded the new-holiday effort. “Nikkye Vargas has been working on this for three years; and this year our niece Isabel Mata joined her team to conduct research, work on an action plan, send emails to the Council, and set a meeting with the mayor.”

Rocha’s reference to research involved looking into historical records about Christopher Columbus and the devastation he brought on indigenous people both as an individual and as repercussions from his initial contact with people in the Caribbean Islands.

“Our first Indigenous Peoples Day celebration will focus on healing,” Dr. Mario Garza, chair of the Institute’s board of elders and cultural preservation officer for the Miakan-Garza tribe of the Coahuiltecan people said.  “We’ll hold two blessing events, one by our Sacred Springs and the other at our Reburial Grounds.”

Painting of the sacred springs as it would have looked 10,000 years ago, by artist Susan Dunis, commissioned and with permission by Gregg Eckhardt.

The first blessing will be held on the cement platform at the edge of the San Marcos River headwaters located at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Garza will be joined with ceremonial representatives who will hold water, fire, earth, and a feather symbolizing air. During the blessing elders will be asked to say prayers in their Native languages and ask for healing for all people on Mother Earth. After the blessing, medicine people will be available for sacred smudging, a traditional offering at indigenous gatherings for individual blessings and healings. Breakfast will be provided for everyone at the outdoor setting.

The second blessing will be held at the Reburial Grounds established by the city of San Marcos on Sept. 6, 2016, as a repatriation site for ancient Native American remains unearthed in Hays County. After a five-year-long process, the Miakan-Garza obtained from Texas State University, the remains of one of their ancestors who was unearthed from an area near the Meadows boat-ride ticket booth in 2011. On May 5, 2017, the tribe reburied the remains once the new burial grounds were established by the city of San Marcos. The Reburial Grounds is located at the Spring Lake Preserve Park, 685 Lime Kiln Road. After the blessing at the grave site, participants will be invited to walk the park trails that wander over land inhabited by the Miakan-Garza tribe’s ancient ancestors.  

“As Coahuiltecan people, we want to share the blessings that this sacred ground offers to all people,” arza said. “When you walk with the ancestors, it symbolizes that you embrace responsibility for community and environmental stewardship. If you care for the People and for Mother Earth, you will be blessed.”