San Marcos, Texas State students invited to attend powwow for free

The Miakan-Garza tribe, founders of the Indigenous Cultures Institute and the Sacred Springs Powwow, is extending a special invitation to San Marcos and Texas State University students, and they’re calling it “Student ID – Get In Free.”  All San Marcos middle and high school students who show a student ID can get in free to the powwow, and University students are included.

“Students under 12 years of age are already offered free admission and now we’re extending this offer to all San Marcos school district students over the age of 12,” says Indigenous Cultures Institute Executive Director Maria Rocha. “We’re working to inform our young people about the indigenous heritage of Hispanics, and we welcome everyone who wants to experience this unique Native American culture, especially students.”

According to Rocha, most of the Hispanic students whose families have been in Texas for hundreds of years are likely descendants of the Coahuiltecan bands who inhabited this state and northern Mexico for thousands of years. These ancient ancestors were the first to encounter the Spanish invaders in this area, documented in the accounts of Cabeza de Vaca. 

“So much of our Native history has been hidden or lost, and we want our young people to recover this knowledge,” says Rocha. “There’s so much to be proud of, and we all need to know where we came from in order to contribute positively to society.  The Miakan-Garza band of Coahuiltecan people is a state-legislature-recognized tribe of Texas and promotes the recovery of this knowledge.”

San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District students will be performing in the Native Culture tent on Saturday, Nov. 17th at 11:30 a.m., and everyone is invited to see the culture that is taught at the Institute’s Indigenous Arts Summer Encounter. Each year at the end of June, the Institute sponsors a week-long ceremonial experience for local students who want to learn about the indigenous heritage of Hispanics. All students are welcome at this unique cultural experience and all SMCISD students can attend free.

The Institute has several educational programs and internships available for students of all ages.  

For more information about the powwow visit Indigenous Cultures Institute's website or call 512-393-3310.