Brittany Kelley
SAN MARCOS — The Indigenous Cultures Institute will host its 15th annual Sacred Springs Powwow Oct. 4-5 in celebration of Native American culture.
Bobbie Garza-Hernandez, Pīlam for community engagement, explained that a powwow is essentially a gathering of Indigenous people to share their culture, whether that be with each other or with residents outside of the community.
“It’s about singing and dancing and celebrating our blessings, the blessings that we receive from Mother Earth,” she said.
The name Sacred Springs comes from the San Marcos Springs, which is the place where the Coahuiltecan creation story begins, she explained. Additionally, the area’s springs, according to the Edwards Aquifer’s website, is one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in North America.
This is why the event takes place on the same grounds where Indigenous history began.
Garza-Hernandez shared that the first powwow actually occurred in 1995 and was hosted by Lucky Tomlin, as a one-time celebration, but when the Indigenous Cultures Institute (ICI) was founded, the founders approached Tomlin and asked if the powwow could become an annual event.
According to the organization, the ICI was founded in 2006 in an effort to "preserve the cultures of the Native Americans indigenous to Texas and northern Mexico, while maintaining our covenant with sacred sites.”
Now, it is hosting its 15th celebration, filled with arts, food and education, with the goal to preserve the culture of Native Americans.
“All tribes are invited to a powwow; everyone is invited to a powwow. It’s music, it’s dance, it’s food, it’s art [and[ it’s sharing of other cultural activities,” said Garza-Hernandez.
There are also opportunities to learn the Coahuiltecan language and a workshop on tracking the earth’s orbit with the Aztec calendar.
Specifically, Garza-Hernandez stated that the Sacred Springs Powwow also hosts two drum groups — from the north and the south — as well as a dance competition, with more than 100 participating groups and various styles.
“It’s truly a unique experience,” emphasized Garza-Hernandez. “It’s connecting with the earth and with nature and also celebrating the natural way of living.”
The Sacred Springs Powwow will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Meadows Center, located at 201 San Marcos Springs Drive.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sspowwow.com.
