First Native American Conference held at the M.A.C.C.

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

Dear Relations, we hope you can help us spread the word about this historic
event. Thank you so much, Maria Rocha

What: First Native American Conference held at the M.A.C.C.
When: Friday, October 31, 2008, 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM
Where: Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River Street, Austin,
TX
Contact: Mario Garza, [email protected],
512-393-3310
More info: www.IndigenousCultures.org

The City of Austin’s Mexican American Cultural Center (M.A.C.C.) joins the
Indigenous Cultures Institute and Great Promise for American Indians to
present the Original Texas Indians Conference, the first Native American
conference to be held at the M.A.C.C. on October 31, from 9:00 AM until 4:30
PM, with registration starting at 8:30 AM. This one-day event is the
culmination of a year-long series of lectures held at the M.A.C.C.

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

cotenued

When the Spaniards first arrived in what is now Texas and northeastern
Mexico, they encountered more than 200 bands of Native Americans in this
area. Historical, archaeological, and linguistic studies show that many
Mexican Americans are actually descendants of these ancient people,
collectively named “Coahuiltecans.” On Friday, October 31st, five lectures
will present information about these original Texans and other topics
impacting the Native American communities today.

Dr. Mario Garza will share little known historical and cultural information
on the identity and ancestral legacy of these original Americans. Dr.
Garza, from the Meakan/Garzas Band of the Coahuiltecans, states, “The
majority of research about these Coahuiltecan groups is scarce and little is
known about their culture and history. My lecture “Gente de Razón” provides
researched information about these original Texas Indians.” Dr. Garza is
executive director of Indigenous Cultures Institute and has years of
experience working with Native American communities.

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

Cemelli De Aztlan, currently a student at Harvard University, will present
her research on the plight of indigenous communities and the most recent
adoption by the United Nations of the International Declaration of
Indigenous Rights. “I’ve done fieldwork on tribal governance and I’ve
witnessed firsthand how native languages and culture are eroding in this
country,” says De Aztlan. “The People of the First Nation are disappearing,
losing their identity and culture, while globally indigenous people are
fighting for their rights.” In her lecture, De Aztlan will share her
passion about indigenous rights and the most current research available.

Carlos Aceves holds a Master’s degree in Education, and has developed an
innovative and effective teaching curriculum for elementary students, based
on ancient indigenous concepts. “I went to Mexico and talked with
indigenous people about their Aztec calendar, about the symbols. And they
gave me information that far surpasses anything archeologists have uncovered
about this amazing cultural treasure.” Aceves teaches mathematics,
geometry, astronomy, sociology, and many more topics, all using the Aztec
calendar, and will detail this knowledge in his lecture.

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

Mark Standing Eagle Baez and his family live on the Navajo Reservation in
Window Rock, Arizona, and he is currently working on his Ph.D. in
Psychology. Baez has studied Native American healing practices through
years of dedication to ceremony and apprenticeships with indigenous healers.
His lecture will focus on some of the general information he has learned,
and on how northern U.S. tribes have similar practices to indigenous people
from the Rio Grande Delta.

Dr. Garza will present the final lecture on the contributions of Native
Americans. He will share little known facts about indigenous contributions
such as brain surgery, image projectors, genetic engineering and more. Garza
explains about the Olmec’s image projector, “American Indians invented an
astounding mechanism that could project an image into another room. This
innovation terrified the Spaniards when they first observed it and it was
condemned as a work of the devil, because it was so far from their
understanding.” This lecture is a thought provoking re-examination of
pre-Columbian Native Americans

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

The conference is free and open to the public. Lunch will be available for
the 45 minute lunch break, for a $5 donation; please call for lunch
reservations, 1-512-393-3310 or email [email protected]. For
further details call 512-393-3310 and visit Indigenous Cultures Institute.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the
state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

[Paul G]

To help promote it, post it here:

https://www.nativegatherings.com

[2lineCarrandMorgan]

Thank you ,
Mr. G