Indigenous & Tejano History Museum now open

HISTORIC HAYS COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Indigenous & Tejano History Museum now open

The potential of our future lies in preserving and understanding our past. This is the goal of the Council for the Indigenous & Tejano Community, who have been working for over a year on an exhibit showcasing the history of the Native American and Mexican American people in Hays County. The exhibit, “The Past Within Us” is now on display at the Historic Hays County Courthouse and is open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This modest exhibit presents some of the rich indigenous and Mexican history that has not been a part of the historical narrative in this space until now,” according to the CITC website. A grand opening ceremo- ny was held on May 16, where CITC members gave speeches discussing the exhibit and the work it took to bring the museum to life. Community leaders were in attendance such as San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson and Judge Ruben Becerra, who is a founding member of CITC. The CITC council includes Gina Alba-Rogers who is the CITC Chair, Irma Gait án who is Vice Chair and Anita Collins who is the treasurer and Director of Oral History. The council also includes Bobbie Garza- Hernandez who is the public relations consultant, Maria Rocha who is a founding member, and also serves as Secretary for the Indigenous Cultures Institute based here in San Marcos. Frank Arredondo is also a part of CITC as a 4th generation Hays County historian.

During the opening ceremony, the Hays County Courthouse was overflowing with community members excited to explore the museum for the first time. Included in the presentation was a ceremonial song by Mario Garza with drum beats echoing through the foyer of the courthouse.

“Even before us, a few of our family members were already doing work to paint a broader picture of our united history to include Tejano and Indigenous people,” Collins

said. A big reason for the exhibit was to bring forward these stories from Tejano and Indigenous communities that have so often been left out of historical narratives.

Inside the exhibit, the walls are lined with historic photos and relics with text explaining the rich history of the local communities. As you enter, the first four walls explain the Indigenous ancestors’ creation story and provide as a glimpse into the lives of the Native American tribes of Hays County. Other installations include the narratives of the San Marcos de Neve, the first community in the area, and a peek into the Spanish colonization of the area. The history continues with an installation chronicling the creation of Hays County in the 1800s. Also included is a look at the state of Indigenous people, and the contributions of Mexican vaqueros to the thriving ranching economy. There is a section that details the early 1900s and the unity of Tejano community leaders. The exhibit as a whole is filled to the brim with rich history that all ages can enjoy and learn from. The exhibit is free and open to the public on Saturdays. If one is interested in volunteering as a docent reach out to [email protected] or visit the website at citc.us